Ahead of next month’s double fixtures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, an ex-international striker, Monday Odiaka has raised eyebrows over what he believes is a ‘corrupted’ selection process for Super Eagles’ players, Sports247 reports.
While giving hope to players in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) that they could still get future chances in the main Eagles, despite their fiasco at this year’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2024), Odiaka slammed what he referred to as ‘corruption’ in the choice of invitees to the national camp.
Odiaka, who shot to global limelight as the top scorer when Nigeria’s Flying Eagles won bronze at the 1985 World Youth Championship in Moscow, also reckoned that home-based players should not be ruled out completely on account of their poor show at CHAN 2024.
He argued further, saying, “The team did not do well, but that does not mean the whole players are not qualified to come to the main camp. That, though, also depends on the technical crew of the team.
“If they find it good that one or two or three can make the main team, nothing stops them from being there; but I don’t really understand what is happening today in Nigerian football.”
Odiaka, who starred for the now defunct African Continental Bank (ACB) FC of Lagos in the domestic league, went on to insinuate that there is something fishy in the recent choice of players for national team invitations.
“What I believe is that corruption has taken over everything. During our generation, there were no sentiments … if you were good, you were good. All that we want is the best for this country.
“But, what I’m seeing these days shows we are not getting the best. I really don’t know what is happening, but I pray for them; because whatever they present to us is what I think they believe is the best,” Odiaka posited.
