As dust settles over Nigeria’s ill-fated outing at this year’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2024), a former star in the domestic league, Ogbonnaya Okemiri, has opined that the country’s best home-based players were not in the squad that failed to shine in Zanzibar.
Sports247 reports that Okemiri, who starred for Enyimba of Aba, Heartland of Owerri and Rivers United of Port Harcourt during his illustrious career in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), further pointed out that a lot of good players were overlooked by Super Eagles’ coach, Eric Chelle.
Okemiri, who was fondly called ‘Mosquito’ during his playing days, added: “In my opinion, that was not the best we have in this country and in our league. There are some players who should have been in that team but were not there.
“I don’t know how they selected those players, but I’ve been in the league, and I’m still following the league. I’ve been watching some matches. So, I know when I see a good player who is capable of playing well in the home-based Eagles’ team.”
The former left-wing-back, who also played for the beach soccer national team, Super Sand Eagles, took his mind back in time and recalled how the selection of players during his days in the home-based national team was done across board, with players evenly invited from many clubs.
“During my time in the Super Eagles’ home-based team, the coach selected the league’s best players. That’s how it should be done. They should select the best players from each club; even if it’s only two from each of them,” Okemiri advocated.
He concluded with an insinuation that putting the Eagles’ main coach in charge of the B-squad should have also been avoided, as the Franco-Malian tactician apparently lacked a proper understanding of NPFL players.
“How many Rivers United players were there? There’s a good, calm and mature central defender playing in Abia Warriors who should have been there.
“He played almost all the club’s league matches last season. Maybe the coach should have focused on the main Eagles and left the CHAN for our home coaches,” Okemiri submitted.
His comments come against the backdrop of the start of a new season in the NPFL on Friday, when Rivers United of Port Harcourt played out a pulsating 1-1 draw away to reigning champions, Remo Stars of Ikenne at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
A long list of week one fixtures then took place on Sunday, with one of the highlights for this season being the presence of four privately-owned teams among the contesting 20.
