Former Nigeria international Dimeji Lawal has said there are too many overhyped players in the Super Eagles.
Lawal made the claim following the Super Eagles’ humiliating 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, on matchday 2, 2027 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Group L on Tuesday.
Goals from Franculino Dju, Mama Balde and Alvaro Djalo secured the dominant win for Guinea-Bissau, who maintain top spot on six points.
For the Super Eagles, they are in second position on three points while Madagascar and Tanzania each has one point.
Reacting to the defeat, Lawal posited that most of the foreign-born players in the Super Eagles cannot cope with the physicality of African football.
“We have too many overhyped players and a country that goes after every foreign-born, once we see players with Nigerian name we run after them,” Lawal said on BRILA Media. “We are talking about African football which is quite different from European football, that’s one of the basic problems we’ve been having and will continue to have.”
Also Read: 2027 AFCONQ: ‘This Is Not The End’ — Chelle Optimistic Despite Humiliating Loss To Guinea-Bissau
The 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medal winner with the Flying Eagles stated that former Super Eagles stars had strong African football background before playing in Europe.
“In the days of Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, they had African football background before mixing it with European football. But what do we have now, we just around after players who have never set their legs on our soil to come and play African football, you think African football is easy?”
On the issue of minnows in football, Lawal said:”For a very long time I knew there was nothing like push overs anymore and when you look at the results it shows if you don’t hold your own you will find it very difficult.”
The Super Eagles will be back in action in the qualifiers on November 11 when they will host Tanzania in Uyo on matchday 3.
By James Agberebi
4 Comments
Nice and factual observations by Dimeni lawal. For real African football is the fastest growing football in the world. They just need to cross a few t’s and dot a few i’s to dominate the world. Their performance in the last world cup lends credence to this fact and shouldn’t be taken for granted. We all witnessed how spain , Urugua, Argentina could not beat Cape Verde in 90minutes. Portugal struggle and drew against Dr congo. Not forgetting Senegal , and Eypgt who gave Belgium and Argentina something to remember for a long time. The question now is if thses football power houses who are far above Nigeria struggle against African Opposition what makes Nigerians feel they can walk over any African Opposition.? For me, gone are those days. The earlier our SE and NFF realizes this the better.. We must buckled up now in terms of mentallity , focus, planning and implementation otherwise I dont see Nigeria qualifying for the next world cup
None of the goalkeeper is overhyped, but both the coach and the players are the major problems. The eagles lack good midfielders, the eagles are made up of self-centred behaviour with psychologically lacking behaviour coupled with the NFF’s cart before the horse characteristics plunging the deficient “eagles” who neither deserve to wear the national jersey who side by side with the technical adviser lacking ought putting for better outputs for good result. Intact, the so called “eagles” over 50 percent of them neither deserve to be eagles just as the coach also lacks or deficient in engaging the “eagles” in the rightly required physical or stamina workouts as required. This is a gross disgrace on the coach and archaic eagles. Quite a gross disgrace on eagles.
No bad-mouthing the SE pls. On that millet farm pitch? These chaps will come to Uyo. The resounding defeat is a lesson to the SE to look over their shoulders for the remaining fixtures.
The damn pitch that teams defeated Guinea Bissau. Abegiii, make we no dey make excuses. We struggled against Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau defeated Tanzania a2ay, that same Tanzania drew woth Madagascar in Madagascar home. SUPER Eagles no good, period