We Deserve Places In Eagles, Say NPFL Stars

After being overlooked by Super Eagles head coach Austin Eguavoen for Nigeria’s World Cup play-off clash against Ghana, some players in the Nigeria Professional Football League has lamented being left out of the squad for the crucial qualifiers.

Eguavoen on Friday released the Eagles’ 32-man provisional squad to face Ghana for the World Cup play-off games later this month, with no single player from the Nigerian league listed.

It’s not the first time the local league players have voiced their frustrations at being excluded from the national team. Erstwhile coach of the team, Gernot Rohr, did not hide his preference for overseas-based stars in over five years in charge of the side, but with the appointment of Eguavoen on interim basis in December, the NPFL stars were hoping for a change of fortunes.

However, the players were left disappointed once more after the list for the clash against the Black Stars was released and none of the home-based players were included.

“It’s a very big issue because it’s obvious that they don’t regard the NPFL players. I see no reason why players from the league cannot be invited, even if it’s just three,” MFM goalkeeper, Jerry Isaac, told The PUNCH.

“Let’s check other countries national teams, they usually have at least two or three home-based players, but the reverse is the case here. It’s so unfair how they treat us and it bothers me because the message they are sending to us is that the league is just empowerment to help alleviate poverty.

“But the bad part is that they deceive us by coming to watch matches and yet they can’t find any good player. We know we have good players that can make the team and that’s why we don’t really get encouraged.”