The upcoming qualifier for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations between Nigeria and Sierra Leone on June 18 holds immense significance for the Super Eagles, as a victory will secure their qualification for the next AFCON tournament.
While Coach José Santos Peseiro has already assembled a formidable squad, including established international players, it is crucial to recognise the immense potential that lies within the Nigeria Premier League (NPL). Surely, there are benefits for the country’s football fortunes in the inclusion of NPL players in the national team. While the team sheet released last Friday by Peseiro sees the commendable selection of certain homegrown talents, there are still notable omissions. More than the paltry four players the coach selected from the blossoming domestic game will be needed going forward.
In recent years, the NPL has experienced observable growth and transformation, most of which were reflected in the 2022/2023 season. The ongoing season, for the first time ever in Nigerian football, is an abridged version due to time and circumstances. The time factor had to do with the entire process of wrestling off control of the League from the defunct League Management Company, previous organisers of the domestic League, whose existence was proscribed in response to court judgements. Their responsibility of managing the League was thereafter transferred to the Interim Management Committee, responsible for the ongoing season.
By the time the interim body was settled to handle the business of the 2022/2023 season, time had been expended far into the calendar for football and all the parties involved met and agreed to enter into an abridged football season rather than completely lose out on the entire season. The circumstantial reasons for the abridged arrangement was due to the political campaigns that were ongoing at the time and necessitated the need to restructure the 2023 football calendar accordingly. After all the planning, logistics and coordination were taken into account, the start date of the current season was pushed from December 2022 to January 2023, with all 20 participating teams receiving a N10m takeoff grant.
Through these initiatives and a drive for more standardisation that includes televised viewings, improved officiating standards, and increased pre-season prize money of N100m for the champions, the league has witnessed an uptick in quality, competitiveness and professionalism. These positive changes have attracted highly talented coaches, with Enyimba International’s Finidi George as a prime example, resulting in a more competitive and dynamic domestic football landscape. As a result, the NPL now boasts a wealth of players who have honed their skills and demonstrated exceptional potential. The abridged version of the League has witnessed defending champions Rivers United hold the forte in Group B, to finish ahead of nine competing teams while the shockingly unbeatable Bendel Insurance held the top slate of Group A for the entirety of the campaign. With the Super Six tournament presently being competed to determine the 2022/2023 champions, it has been a competitively tough campaign, which has thrown up a class of promising players and managers.
While the current Super Eagles’ squad possesses strength and depth, there are areas, particularly the backline and defensive midfield, where the inclusion of NPL players could enhance their overall performance and bring the team up to respectable places alongside the best the continent has to offer. Peseiro has played the safe bet of sticking to his wary cast of mostly foreign based professionals. His team sheet reads like the oft-seen dramatis personal of players that believe their places in the squad are sacrosanct irrespective of their form, level and or performances over time. Although there is no Francis Uzoho this time, Adebayo Adeleye of Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel is the foreign based player to be invited to man the place between the sticks for Nigeria and it is obvious he will be preferred over Victor Sochima of Rivers United and Olorunleke Ojo of Enyimba.
In defense, the regulars return: Watford’s William Ekong, Calvin Bassey of Ajax, Kevin Akpoguma from TSG Hoffenheim, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi from West Bromwich Albion, Kenneth Omeruo of Leganes, Zaidu Sanusi of Porto, and Bright Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahce. Only Rivers United’s Chidiebube Duru is from the NPL. This is counterproductive because the defence has not been the most reliable of recent with the occasional goal blamed on a lack of coordination between back line and goalkeeper.
Some of these players abroad are not in elite clubs and some play in the second division. They are not that far removed from the levels of home-based talents nor do they possess the raw energy that domestic players have in abundance. Therefore, when they encounter tougher and sterner-built African forwards and opposition, they mostly wilt to the disadvantage of the country’s football. Injecting more defenders from the domestic League is one way to address this imbalance.
For the midfield, Peseiro went for recently relegated Southampton’s Joe Aribo, almost relegated Alex Iwobi of Everton, recently relegated Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester and Frank Onyeka of Brentford FC. The Portuguese manager only included Divine Nwachukwu from the hard-to-beat Bendel Insurance of the NPL. In the attack, there are the usual suspects, Nantes’ Moses Simon, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, the sensational Victor Osimhen of Italian champions Napoli, Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest, that barely escaped relegation from the English Premier League, the recently relegated Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester and the captain, who should have long been dropped to create ample opportunity for another more clinical forward, Ahmed Musa of Sivasspor K.
More players from the domestic competition deserve to be given a chance to make their mark in an optimally managed blend of regulars and fresh faces in the squad. For instance, Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, with his outstanding contributions to the team’s unbeaten run and his award as the best goalkeeper for February, presents a strong case for challenging the inclusion of Rivers United’s Victor Sochima. Obasogie’s consistent performances, exceptional shot-stopping ability, and commanding presence make him a worthy candidate for the national team. Also, Ekerrette Udom of Sunshine Stars stands out as another promising defensive option for shoring up the Super Eagles’ backline. Udom’s defensive prowess, composed decision-making, and excellent positioning make him a reliable asset to fortify the Super Eagles’ backline.
In the midfield, Joseph Atule from Lobi Stars and Paul Acquah of Rivers United deserve recognition just as well as any other player in the domestic game. Atule’s ability to dictate the tempo of the game and deliver precise passes would greatly benefit the national team’s midfield creativity.
Meanwhile, Acquah’s relentless work rate, tenacity in tackles, and adeptness at breaking up opposition play make him an ideal defensive midfield option to complement the invited Bendel Insurance midfielder, Divine Nwachukwu.
The inclusion of players from the NPL offers numerous advantages for the Super Eagles. Firstly, it expands the talent pool, providing an opportunity to tap into the hunger, ambition, and untapped potential of players who are eager to showcase their abilities on the international stage. These players often exhibit a unique level of passion, determination, and hunger for growth, which can significantly impact the team’s performance and foster a winning mentality. Secondly, integrating NPL players strengthens the connection between the national team and the domestic league. This synergy can ignite increased support and engagement from fans, creating a virtuous cycle that boosts both the development of football in Nigeria and the overall quality of the national team. By bridging the gap between the two realms, the inclusion of homegrown talents not only elevates the status of the league but also facilitates the growth and international recognition of Nigerian football.
Indeed, there has been evidence of for coach Peseiro’s presence at some of the Super Six matches at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos, more ought to be demanded of the coach, especially with being abreast with the local game. The lazy option of waiting for matches in Lagos to reach a determination about which handful of domestic players to call up for national duty should be discarded for a more thorough and detailed following of the NPL scene to create a synergy with the teams, the players, the coaching crew to have a first-hand appreciation of the progress of the players, to see those requiring psych-evaluations, inspirations, grafting, grooming, extra motivations and other inputs to get them from their raw talents to improvements that will benefit themselves, their clubs, the national team and the country as a whole. This was the template that successful coaches like Clemens Westerhof adopted.
The Dutchman is credited with turning Nigeria into a perennial powerhouse in African football and showing that they, and other African nations, can compete on the world stage. He is responsible for a “golden” period in Nigerian football, where players such as Jay-Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini, and Daniel Amokachi entered the world spotlight.
Peseiro’s selection of the four homegrown talents aforementioned in the Super Eagles’ squad is a small step and hopefully, goalkeepers Sochima and Olorunleke Ojo, defender Duru, and midfielder Divine Nwachukwu will be allowed to feature to prove the deserve their inclusion and sell the NPL’s worth for all to see.
Their inclusion, at the very least, demonstrate the coach’s keen awareness of the talent pool within domestic competitions. By recognising the contributions of these players and offering them an opportunity to showcase their skills at the international level, Peseiro is moving along the path of a progressive approach that fosters growth and inclusivity in Nigerian football. May it continue in the international matches to come.
As Nigeria prepares for the crucial AFCON Qualifier against Sierra Leone, the inclusion of players from the Nigeria Premier League stands as a catalyst for the Super Eagles’ success. The rise of the NPL, combined with the hunger, talent, and determination of homegrown players, represents an invaluable asset that should not be overlooked. By tapping into the power of homegrown talents, Nigeria can harness the exceptional potential within its domestic league, elevating the Super Eagles’ performance on the international stage. Peseiro’s commendable selection of these four NPL players indicates a willingness to embrace the nation’s domestic football scene, but further integration of homegrown talents would undoubtedly propel Nigerian football to new heights of excellence and achievement.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
