Former Super Eagles’ right-back, George Abbey has showered praise on the Nigerian national team’s coach, Eric Sekou Chelle for starting three home-based players in Wednesday’s clash with Ghana at the 2025 Unity Cup in London, England.
Sports247 reports that Chelle proved sceptics wrong by lining out three Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) players in his starting 11 for the game at Brentford’s GTech Community Stadium, while another three got off the bench at various points after the interval, yet the team wrapped up a 2-1 win against their eternal rivals.
Chelle’s start list featured Sodiq Ismail at right back, Papa Daniel on the left side of midfield and Sikiru Alimi up front, while Emmanuel Onyebuchi, Collins Ugwueze and former foreign-based winger, Ahmed Musa, who now plays for Kano Pillars FC, all entered the pitch in the second half.
To make the story sweeter, Sodiq played a key role in Nigeria’s first goal on the night, as it was his well-floated ball into the box that Glasgow Rangers of Scotland striker, Cyriel Dessers got on the end of to slam home his third international goal in the 14th minute of play.
Consequently, while giving his review of Wednesday’s game, Abbey thanked Chelle for giving the NPFL lads the long-awaited opportunity, after which he charged the players to use such chances effectively whenever they come.
Abbey, who starred for Sharks FC of Port Harcourt before travelling out to ply his trade in England, noted: “For a number of years now, the fans and the media, everybody has been asking questions about home-based players.
They continue saying, ‘Give home-based a chance, give home-based players a chance.’ So, this type of tournament is a good opportunity for these players.”
With the Nigerian squad and their array of local league players having scaled the first hurdle against the Black Stars of Ghana at the four-nation invitational competition, Abbey reckoned that all 10 NPFL players that made the trip to London have a very conducive environment in which to lay further claim to more relevance in the star-studded Super Eagles.
He opined further, “It’s a friendly tournament and not so immense as to put pressure on them. So, it’s not too big for them to show their quality. This type of setting is good for these players, and they can also learn from the foreign-based ones on how to conduct themselves in the national team.”
The mulatto lad, who also starred for Macclesfield Town, Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra of England at the height of his career, continued by expressing hope that Chelle will keep faith with the home-based lads for Saturday’s final against Jamaica.
The former defender, who played 18 matches for Nigeria and was in the Eagles’ bronze-winning squad to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, ended with a view that some home-based lads will go on to lay strong claims for regular spots in the main squad along the way.
“Let them go and play, then we’ll see the ones who are good enough to play at the highest level for the national team. We’ll see if they can stay longer, try and fight for a space when it comes to major qualifications and tournaments. So, it’s a good step by the coach,” Abbey eulogised.
