Former Super Eagles defender, Abiodun Obafemi has weighed in on the absence of home-based players from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Obafemi admitted that the CHAN Eagles had themselves to blame after their poor outing at the African Nations Championship.
The team’s performance was underwhelming and justifies their exclusion from the current Super Eagles squad.
“Honestly, they did not do well to justify being included in the final list, from what I saw,” Obafemi said.
“If we have to judge them by what we saw at the CHAN, I don’t think any one of them deserves to be there. None.”
However, the Olympic gold medalist also acknowledged that head coach Eric Chelle could make a U-turn: matches.
“As a coach, I am very sure he must have seen them on a daily basis.
“So, if he feels maybe one or two of them deserve to be in the team, not based on their performances at CHAN but on what he saw in training every day, then that is his decision,” Obafemi added.
Nigeria will play back-to-back group fixtures as they continue their push for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After a home game against Rwanda in Uyo on September 6, an even tougher task awaits the team in Bloemfontein when the Super Eagles face Bafana Bafana on September 9.
