Former Nigeria international Abiodun Obafemi has backed the introduction of younger players into the Super Eagles, insisting that the national team must begin preparing the next generation as several established stars approach the latter stages of their careers.
Obafemi believes Nigeria cannot afford to delay the transition, stressing that age is gradually catching up with some experienced players and that younger talents must be given opportunities to establish themselves.
“Honestly, the majority of these guys, a lot of them, age is no longer on their side. So we need these younger faces,” Obafemi said.
The former defender welcomed the recent experimentation with new players, arguing that such decisions are necessary to build a competitive squad capable of sustaining Nigeria’s ambitions in international football.
“That is why I’m not angry with all the experiments here and there, because these boys can’t play forever,” he explained.
“So we need younger players to take over from them.”
His comments come amid efforts to broaden the Super Eagles’ player pool, with new faces being introduced into the national team setup to gain valuable international experience.
Obafemi believes exposure to competitive matches will help emerging players develop the confidence and maturity required to perform consistently at the highest level.
“With this type of game, I think those boys will perform better because, you know, you do well, you do better when the more you play, the more confidence you have,” he stated.
The former international maintained that the transition should not be viewed as a rejection of experienced players but as an essential step towards securing the national team’s future.
He stressed that sustained opportunities for younger talents would strengthen competition for places and ensure the Super Eagles are not left struggling when senior players eventually move on.
“With that school of thought, honestly, we need new faces, younger boys,” Obafemi concluded.
For Obafemi, the message is clear: Nigeria must embrace the introduction of younger players now, giving them the international exposure and confidence needed to become the Super Eagles’ next generation of dependable performers.
