Chairman of the Kogi State Football Association, Hassan Wada, has backed Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle following the latest squad announcement which once again excluded home-based players.
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Reacting to the list for upcoming friendlies against Iran and Jordan, Wada insisted that national team selection should be based strictly on quality rather than location.
“Only the best legs should make the national team,” Wada said.
He argued that playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) should not automatically guarantee a place in the Nigeria national football team, emphasizing that merit must remain the key criterion.
“It shouldn’t matter where a player is based,” he added.
Wada also expressed confidence that any NPFL player who is truly good enough will eventually earn a call-up to the national team.
“If a player is good enough, he will be invited,” he stated.
The football administrator noted that the coach’s primary responsibility is to assemble the strongest possible squad capable of delivering results.
He urged fans and stakeholders to trust the technical crew’s decisions, especially during a period where the team is trying to build consistency.
Wada concluded by reiterating that competition for places should remain open and based on performance, stressing that this approach will ultimately strengthen the Super Eagles and ensure long-term success.
