Former Super Eagles defender Juwon Oshaniwa has raised concerns over the prospects of home-based players in the Nigeria national football team, questioning whether footballers in the domestic league still have a realistic pathway to represent the country.
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Oshaniwa’s comments come amid ongoing debates about the role of players from the Nigeria Professional Football League in the national team setup.
The former international pointed out that the current standard of the domestic league requires significant improvement before it can consistently produce players ready for international football.
“The level of the league right now needs a lot of intervention,” Oshaniwa said.
According to him, the gap between the NPFL and the level required for the Super Eagles has continued to widen over the years.
“There are still many things that must be done to improve the league,” he added.
Oshaniwa also questioned the long-term motivation of players competing in the domestic competition if national team opportunities remain limited.
“If NPFL players rarely get invited to the Super Eagles, then we must ask what the future is for them,” he said.
The former defender stressed that strengthening the domestic league would help create a better pipeline of talent for the national team.
“When the league improves, more players from home will naturally earn opportunities,” he explained.
Oshaniwa believes investing in infrastructure, administration and player development within the NPFL is crucial for Nigerian football’s long-term success.
“We need serious intervention to raise the standard of the local league,” he noted.
Despite his concerns, Oshaniwa maintained that Nigerian football has enormous talent both locally and abroad.
“Nigeria has talent everywhere, but we must build a system that allows those talents to grow,” he concluded.
