Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has issued a blunt and worrying assessment of the home-based players drafted into the national team, revealing that many of them arrive in camp without the hunger or determination needed to challenge for starting spots.
Speaking ahead of another AFCON squad announcement, Omeruo expressed disappointment that several domestic-league players invited in recent years appear to treat national team call-ups as a form of career branding rather than an opportunity to compete.
“Most of the home-based players come only to complete the team. They don’t fight enough, and many already believe they won’t play,” he said.
The Kasimpasa defender explained that many local players seem mentally defeated even before training begins, coming into camp with the mindset that they are only backups and not legitimate contenders for shirts.
“You can see it in their attitude. Some are satisfied just being called up because it boosts their profile, but they don’t push hard enough to force themselves into the XI,” he added.
Omeruo noted that national team football demands intensity, ambition, and confidence, qualities he believes some domestic players fail to demonstrate during camp sessions.
With AFCON in Morocco only weeks away, the defender predicted that the upcoming squad list will likely include very few home-based players due to this recurring issue.
“I don’t see many being included because they rarely compete strongly enough for places,” he admitted.
He urged NPFL players to raise their standards, challenge themselves, and approach every call-up with the same mentality as Europe-based stars.
“You must believe you can start. You must push yourself. Talent is not enough without fight,” he added.
Omeruo, who has represented Nigeria for over a decade, insisted that the door remains open for home-based players, but only those who show genuine hunger will force their way in.
His final message was sharp:
“Don’t come to camp to take pictures or complete numbers , come to fight.”
