Former Nigerian international, Bright Omokaro , said representing Nigeria in the Africa Nation’s Cup (AFCON) has now become an all comers’ affair, where benched players in their foreign clubs are making the Super Eagles team.
He said this was unlike his playing days in the 1970’s, when it was tough to don the Nigerian jerseys.
Omokaro said this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, when asked to assess the Super Eagles level of preparedness ahead of Saturday’s Côte D’Ivoire tournament.
“It is sad that we have a handful of players who are not first choice players in their respective teams, and they are representing Nigeria at the Nations Cup; this is very unfortunate,” Omokaro told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday when asked to assess the level of Super Eagles’ preparedness for tournament.
Read Also: Chelsea to break bank to sign Osimhen
” The easiest way to get into the Super Eagles these days is to just play for any foreign club, it could be a third tier division, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re regarded as a foreign player.
“In my days the likes of John Fashanu know they have to go through the extra mile and work extra hard to get into the Super Eagles squad.
“If you don the Nigerian jersey, you have obviously proven yourself to be worthy,” he said.
Omokaro, a hard as nail defender in his playing days, said the exclusion of home based players was disturbing.
” I thought we’ve gotten past this. I don’t know if it’s possible for it to be law in Nigeria that every team should have at least 40 per cent of home based players.
“By so doing, we’re consciously developing our football. I know times have changed but if it worked for our football then, we should consider it,” he said.