Former Nigerian winger, Tijani Babangida has commended the players invited by Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro for the international friendly game against Algeria.
The Super Eagles will keep a date with Algeria at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium, Oran on Tuesday, September 27.
The Portuguese tactician kept faith with the regulars in the team with the likes of captain Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and others all making the list .
Read Also: Dennis Replaces Injured Onyekuru For Algeria Friendly
Reacting to the list, the Atlanta Olympic gold medalist told Completesports.com that he’s delighted with the players invited for Algeria game.
“I believe the Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has done pretty well with the invitation of players for the Algeria game.
“The return of Awoniyi and other players shows their level of hardwork and consistency in their respective clubs.
“I’m optimistic the team will do their best to pick a positive result against Algeria.”
5 Comments
AS FOR ME, THE LIKE OF OMEMRUO, ETEBO, BALOGUNÑ, MUSA ARE NOT ÑEEDED IN SUPER EAGLE AGAIN, THEY ARE ALL IRRELEVANT PLAYERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CLUBS
Omerue captain of his team in Spain.. balogun a starter in a team seeking promotion of the EPL ( best league in the world) Musa an Europa league player.. are these players irrelevant to their team. No.. especially when we don’t have replacement or players in their level
Sao Tome 0: Nigeria 10 that was the 1st leg I think . The 2nd leg could be Nigeria 3 Sao Tome 3…to show how depreciational value if the team..if care is not taking.
By now the coach shud be looking inward.get his own boys,send Dem to clubs he has interest in ,in Europe so dey can be useful for him in another 2yesrs .That was wat the likes of westahof et al did to achieve den with eagles
Jose Peseiro should to recall Egoh Ugboh instead of shaky center back William Troost Ekong also he should to exclude Keleche Iheanacho then he should to recall Maja who is an interactive at Bordeaux or to recall Emanuel Emegha forward of Austrian club Sturm Graz, also where is sensational player Alhassan Ibrahim, and why did you recall unactive player at his club Frank Onyeka? and leave Alhassan Ibrahim, this marvelous and strange recall, coach Peseiro I advice you that you must not manage Super Eagles as an ex coach Gernot Rhor was administrating them; choose an interactive player at his club and has a merit , strong , genius , ferociuos , agressive, has goal scoring sensibility, please don’t committ mistakes like ex coach Gernot Rhor.
With all due respect, I disagree with you, Mr. Tijani Babangida. If we are consolidating for the present while building for the future, then all is not well with this list. A good number of players should not have been on this while those deserving are left out. If we don’t use these very few FIFA international dates to blood in new and deserving players, when will we be able to, on the eve of Nations Cup next year if we qualify or the start of World Cup qualifiers?
Truth of the matter is Mr. Peseiro seems more interested in keeping his job than in building for the long term. Understandable, given that self-preservation is the first law of life. But do we have to be complicit in that?
It is pertinent to note that indigenous coaches have been the ones brave enough to take risks trying to call up inexperienced players and integrate them. Mr. Adegboye Onigbinde did that the periods he was our national team coach. He brought in the late Mr. Wilfred Agbonabare and the late Mr. Patrick Okala into the national team at a time when both players were very young in the early eighties. He also took Vincent Enyeama, Augustine Ejide and Osaze Odewingie to the 2002 World Cup, all young and inexperienced. The late Agbonabare was instrumental to us qualifying for the 1994 World Cup while both Vincent Enyeama and Osaze Odewingie went on to become key members of our national team for years. If we are really serious about being competitive in the near future and start winning tournaments in Africa and qualifying for the World Cup, we should start now.
Below is what I think should have been a fair list based on merit.
Goalkeepers; Adebayo Adeleye, Kayode Bankole, Francis Uzoho [should be dropped in furure if he continues sit on the bench in Cyprus].
Defenders; Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Igo Ogbu, Olisa Ndah, Ziadu Sanusi, Sopuruchukwu Onyemaechi, Chidozie Awaziem [ not sold on him, only there because Tyrone Ebuehi is not active currently], Kevin Akpoguma [not sold on him either, vulnerable to pace, might cost dearly in future in a crucial match in Africa].
Midfielders; Alhassan Yusuf, Kelechi Nwakali, Raphael Onyedika, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka [he needs to start playing regularly at club level].
Forwards; Terem Moffi, Moses Simon, Chidera Ejike, Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman.
On merit, Peter Olayinka does deserve to be invited.