African Football Discussion Thread: {Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2027 ⚽⚽}.

[Iamgoat]

Exactly, international experience shouldn’t always be the main factor when come to deciding who deserves to play in the national team . Normally taken players with international experience will give the team some edges , but that doesn’t stop the fact that there are still talented players that haven’t play international leagues , but when they have given the chance you will see the professionalism on them like that of the keeper you mentioned .

You are right, it should come as a real mix between the internationally experienced players and other locally experienced players who are also talented . There are several reasons to why it’s important to mix them up. The first reason for me is the passion and platform. While the experienced international players are also expected to be passionate like we see in world class players like Ronaldo and Messi, sometimes they don’t apply much of such passion to the platform because they feel like they have nothing really much to lose regardless. Secondly, the local experienced and talented players are most of the times more passionate about the game because aside from being or showing the patriotism, they also apply much of their efforts to showcasing their skills to the world and turning their chances into the platform to grow their skills and wealth of experience. Lastly, it is easier to get the kind of results we are looking for making use of the mix of the domestic players who are also talented with the meager resources we have than manage the world class players because I know one of our major challenges in African soccer especially Nigeria is lack of proper funding in recruiting, training and sustaining our players to achieve our desired goals. The NFF president just resigned recently.

[Ndabagi01]

There are pros and cons of both sides. In my opinion, the pros of using home based players are more than the cons. If international experience is the only argument for abroad based players, the team can at least reduce the numbers to a maximum of 3 abroad players. It wouldn’t hurt for the Super Eagles to try this strategy, after all the current pattern hasn’t yielded much success.

The Nigerian Football Federation values the overseas players more than those playing at home, this is very evident by the players they call up for international competitions. Not that these home teams players can give them what they want but they feel giving those players opportunity will actually make them become better in the international level since most of them are more acquainted with the game abroad.

I also do not think this is the best idea going forward. Trying all possibilities is the best approach and they should not relent in doing that to make sure that they get to experience both and see which is better. Some players being underrated playing league at home could do much better when given the opportunity. They know what’s at stake and will give in all their best to make sure Nigeria is proud of them and they also get good consideration from clubs outside.

[Fiatless]

The Nigerian Football Federation values the overseas players more than those playing at home, this is very evident by the players they call up for international competitions. Not that these home teams players can give them what they want but they feel giving those players opportunity will actually make them become better in the international level since most of them are more acquainted with the game abroad.

I also do not think this is the best idea going forward. Trying all possibilities is the best approach and they should not relent in doing that to make sure that they get to experience both and see which is better. Some players being underrated playing league at home could do much better when given the opportunity. They know what’s at stake and will give in all their best to make sure Nigeria is proud of them and they also get good consideration from clubs outside.

The Nigerian national team should be made up of both local-based players and those who play in clubs abroad. We need the experience of the foreign-based player, while the hard work and determination of local players are also essential. National team players who play in the local league usually give their best because they want to get the attention of foreign clubs. I remember that Sunday Mba was playing for Rangers when he became a national team hero, scoring the only goal in the AFCON Finals against Burkina Faso.

[Franklyn-wood]

The Nigerian national team should be made up of both local-based players and those who play in clubs abroad. We need the experience of the foreign-based player, while the hard work and determination of local players are also essential. National team players who play in the local league usually give their best because they want to get the attention of foreign clubs. I remember that Sunday Mba was playing for Rangers when he became a national team hero, scoring the only goal in the AFCON Finals against Burkina Faso.

The corruption in the NFF will not allow this kind of thing to happen at all. People that don't know how to invest in local players and make them an international offer to bigger team and clubs that will be ready to pay huge amounts of money to buy them and play there, they would rather use the money and invest in how they can embezzle more money so that the government will not have anything left to trace that can be use to bring them to book. There are so many amazing things that should be happening in the Nigeria league but bad leaders have made it look unattractive to foreign investors and clubs.

[SatoPrincess]

I remember that Sunday Mba was playing for Rangers when he became a national team hero, scoring the only goal in the AFCON Finals against Burkina Faso.

Sunday Mbah is a great example and a reminder of opportunities we may be missing out just because the recruitment process is closed sided. Makes you wonder if Stanley Nwabali would have made it to the Super Eagles if he wasn’t playing for in South African league. I guess that counts as international experience by NFF standards and is valued above our NPFL.

[Audrey Simmons]

This is a very biased analysis in comparing the potential in our local based players to our players that plays outside. If there's a plan to make npfl players a part of the super eagles squad, why's it so deficult in getting players by monitoring our local leagues?

The truth can be bitter at times. I never said scouting local league players is a bad decision, but we can't have more local league players representing us at the international level than players with experience in foreign football. Whether we agree or not, football in Europe is quite different from football in Nigeria and in Africa as a continent.

I'm in support of adding local team players to the league, aside from what they can contribute, it is an opportunity to open them up to bigger opportunities if their performance is extraordinary enough to deserve a call from a top club or a club outside the country.

[Son Of Blockchain (SOB)]

This is a very biased analysis in comparing the potential in our local based players to our players that plays outside. If there's a plan to make npfl players a part of the super eagles squad, why's it so deficult in getting players by monitoring our local leagues?

The truth can be bitter at times. I never said scouting local league players is a bad decision, but we can't have more local league players representing us at the international level than players with experience in foreign football. Whether we agree or not, football in Europe is quite different from football in Nigeria and in Africa as a continent.

I'm in support of adding local team players to the league, aside from what they can contribute, it is an opportunity to open them up to bigger opportunities if their performance is extraordinary enough to deserve a call from a top club or a club outside the country.

Based on how corrupt the system is, many talents in local level are not given the opportunity to showcase their talents cause they lack sponspor that would help them bribe scouts that would pick them to represent the country, am not saying everyone who got the opportunity to represent the country bribed their way but a lot of shits are going on bro.
 We have very good talented players in Nigeria but many of them got their dreams killed by those scouts who seek bribe from them to be picked it's very unfair.

[Davidvictorson]

We have very good talented players in Nigeria but many of them got their dreams killed by those scouts who seek bribe from them to be picked it's very unfair.

Aside from the issues that you have highlighted.
From personal conversations with some talented young players in Nigeria, they lack the finances to go to the places where they will actually see or meet the scouts. Places that give the visibility. Some are working full time and cannot afford to miss a day of work to go for tryouts because the job is what gives them money at that time and that’s what supports them. In my estimation, it is not about money but the kind of environment they have found themselves in.

[Mr Reporter]

The Nigerian national team should be made up of both local-based players and those who play in clubs abroad. We need the experience of the foreign-based player, while the hard work and determination of local players are also essential. National team players who play in the local league usually give their best because they want to get the attention of foreign clubs. I remember that Sunday Mba was playing for Rangers when he became a national team hero, scoring the only goal in the AFCON Finals against Burkina Faso.

On the Brightside, it is an amazing fact that we have Foregun based players with a lot of experience plus quality in them, you could even think that most of them play out in countries like Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey which you and I can tell they play both Pace, tactics, pressure, and Champions League level. For players like Osimhen Iwobi, Bassey, and Lookman that’s the experience which you can’t fake at all….

I think right now the main biggest challenge is the problem of scouting, at some point the NFF and coaches need to actually watch NPFL games not just few of their games…

[Marvelockg]

The Nigerian national team should be made up of both local-based players and those who play in clubs abroad. We need the experience of the foreign-based player, while the hard work and determination of local players are also essential. National team players who play in the local league usually give their best because they want to get the attention of foreign clubs. I remember that Sunday Mba was playing for Rangers when he became a national team hero, scoring the only goal in the AFCON Finals against Burkina Faso.

On the Brightside, it is an amazing fact that we have Foregun based players with a lot of experience plus quality in them, you could even think that most of them play out in countries like Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey which you and I can tell they play both Pace, tactics, pressure, and Champions League level. For players like Osimhen Iwobi, Bassey, and Lookman that’s the experience which you can’t fake at all….

I think right now the main biggest challenge is the problem of scouting, at some point the NFF and coaches need to actually watch NPFL games not just few of their games…

At this point, most npfl players are not hoping that they will be promoted to the national team directly from the npfl. Most of them are looking at two potential options. It's either they are opportuned to get signed by foreign clubs and from Thier if they do well they can come back to playing for Nigeria or that they just settle for the local league they've been playing in and build their carrier around it.

The media is not even favouring our local players because we don't have a single channel that's showing the npfl. The only one I've ever seen which is afia TV doesn't even have the right quality and is still limited in somany ways. This is the reason why with all the talents at the Nigerian premier league, before they get noticed, they've already approached retirement age.

[Cleanshit]

We have very good talented players in Nigeria but many of them got their dreams killed by those scouts who seek bribe from them to be picked it's very unfair.

Aside from the issues that you have highlighted.
From personal conversations with some talented young players in Nigeria, they lack the finances to go to the places where they will actually see or meet the scouts. Places that give the visibility. Some are working full time and cannot afford to miss a day of work to go for tryouts because the job is what gives them money at that time and that’s what supports them. In my estimation, it is not about money but the kind of environment they have found themselves in.

Most of the times we do focus more on the players as not being good enough without even checking out the barriers that are preventing them from not being see from the first place. A player can be talented but won’t be able to show case it ability or miss the opportunity due to he can’t attend trials or travel to where scout are eventually looking. If clubs and NNF can eventually build up a better scouting Systerm across different country, allot of hidden talents will be chance to price themselves.

[igebotz]

Sunday Mbah is a great example and a reminder of opportunities we may be missing out just because the recruitment process is closed sided. Makes you wonder if Stanley Nwabali would have made it to the Super Eagles if he wasn’t playing for in South African league. I guess that counts as international experience by NFF standards and is valued above our NPFL.

I can't blame the coaches, the local league games are poorly managed and it prevented these foreign coaches from traveling to watch these guys to help them make a better judgement of these home based players.

You don't expect them to make decisions based on stats, it's difficult that way. They only have access to these away based players and that's one of the reasons we don't see home based anyone like before.

[Ndabagi01]

I can't blame the coaches, the local league games are poorly managed and it prevented these foreign coaches from traveling to watch these guys to help them make a better judgement of these home based players.

You don't expect them to make decisions based on stats, it's difficult that way. They only have access to these away based players and that's one of the reasons we don't see home based anyone like before.

This also counts big time as one of the challenges being faced by local league games. You can’t talk about player playing domestic league at home and be able to look up their stats together with performance on the pitch, you’ll not find such data out there which makes it hard for them to be scouted for bigger offers like playing in the national team. There is a gap to be closed before we can get to see local and domestic leagues not facing these challenges when it comes to given them opportunities to represent Nigeria

[Agbamoni]

The Nigerian Football Federation values the overseas players more than those playing at home, this is very evident by the players they call up for international competitions. Not that these home teams players can give them what they want but they feel giving those players opportunity will actually make them become better in the international level since most of them are more acquainted with the game abroad.

I also do not think this is the best idea going forward. Trying all possibilities is the best approach and they should not relent in doing that to make sure that they get to experience both and see which is better. Some players being underrated playing league at home could do much better when given the opportunity. They know what’s at stake and will give in all their best to make sure Nigeria is proud of them and they also get good consideration from clubs outside.

The Nigerian national team should be made up of both local-based players and those who play in clubs abroad. We need the experience of the foreign-based player, while the hard work and determination of local players are also essential. National team players who play in the local league usually give their best because they want to get the attention of foreign clubs. I remember that Sunday Mba was playing for Rangers when he became a national team hero, scoring the only goal in the AFCON Finals against Burkina Faso.

Local-based players don't need to be added to the Nigerian national team if they are not up to the task. The team has to be made up of competent players. I don't mind if the team is made up of locally based players completely or if it is made up of professional players outside Nigeria. I just need players who are willing to give their all for the national team. The NFF should stop being biased. They should stop favoritism and religious discrimination and do the right thing.

[Oluwa-btc]

Local-based players don't need to be added to the Nigerian national team if they are not up to the task. The team has to be made up of competent players. I don't mind if the team is made up of locally based players completely or if it is made up of professional players outside Nigeria. I just need players who are willing to give their all for the national team. The NFF should stop being biased. They should stop favoritism and religious discrimination and do the right thing.

They're called "Home based players" not "Local based players" You're Welcome!! 

They should be even be the players representing the Nigerian national team more but NFF decided to focus on bribing and corruption. The  managers should pick players from the Nigerian Premier League and then add four to five players who plays European football. There are good players, maybe you have never gone to watch. I watched one time when accompanied my bros to Enugu and one time when I had a solo travel to Akwa IBom. We have talented and brilliant players playing in our leagues, we do not watch them enough to notice.

Another thing we lack is a clear structure. Look at Spain and how they play, you can see that from the academy to the Spanish national team plays the same way. Until we're able to do that, we will be far from being coordinated and winning a major trophy like the FIFA World Cup Competition.

[Mayor of ogba]

Local-based players don't need to be added to the Nigerian national team if they are not up to the task. The team has to be made up of competent players. I don't mind if the team is made up of locally based players completely or if it is made up of professional players outside Nigeria. I just need players who are willing to give their all for the national team. The NFF should stop being biased. They should stop favoritism and religious discrimination and do the right thing.

How are we going to know that home-based players aren't competent to be added to the Nigeria national team when there's no coach that has the ball to give few home-based players the opportunity to play in the Nigeria national team. Steven Keshi was the only Super Eagles head coach that gave home-based players the opportunity to play in the Nigeria national team, and he won the African Cup of Nations with that combination. So if the Nigeria players that are playing in foreign lands can't give us what will want I think it's high time few home-based  players are integrate to the Nigeria national team if they can help the Nigeria national team remain consistent in getting excellent results.

[Obulis]

Economic and Financial Crime Commission and ICPC has probe NFF for the uncounted N12 billions which was meant for the allowances, and bonuses for the players. The loss of the Super Falcons has made the government to look into the management and they have caught a big fish. This was gotten from Sahara Reporters.

This probe has been overdue. There have been reports of a high rate of corruption in the NFF, and it seems the statutory agencies have been turning a blind eye to these allegations. Players who sacrifice to represent the country are owed wages, while the government has released funds. I am pleased that this corrupt institution will be investigated. My problem is that the EFCC is also corrupt. I will not be surprised if money changes hands and the case is swept under the carpet.

Painful reality! Painful how NFF is just a prototype of the system of which EFCC is not excluded. It got to this level because the NFF made it so obvious that even the blind can see what they did. The NFF leaders are indirect part of the system that is why they're all able to get that office in the first place and the moral to do that bullshit of which this can't be the first time, being part of the on going system, there's actually little or nothing that the EFCC will do. The drama will keep playing until power takes off and that will end the story.

[Doan9269]

Local-based players don't need to be added to the Nigerian national team if they are not up to the task. The team has to be made up of competent players. I don't mind if the team is made up of locally based players completely or if it is made up of professional players outside Nigeria. I just need players who are willing to give their all for the national team. The NFF should stop being biased. They should stop favoritism and religious discrimination and do the right thing.

How are we going to know that home-based players aren't competent to be added to the Nigeria national team when there's no coach that has the ball to give few home-based players the opportunity to play in the Nigeria national team. Steven Keshi was the only Super Eagles head coach that gave home-based players the opportunity to play in the Nigeria national team, and he won the African Cup of Nations with that combination. So if the Nigeria players that are playing in foreign lands can't give us what will want I think it's high time few home-based  players are integrate to the Nigeria national team if they can help the Nigeria national team remain consistent in getting excellent results.

In my own view, I would rather support for both the home-based players and the international/experienced players all be added, because this is what constitute a team and they are all Nigerians as long as they can deliver and the coach will have an oversight to know the best team he could made up from them all.

Sometimes we will discover that what we see may not actually be the condition on what applies to playing football, and we need to also start building hope in our young players so that they could have confidence as well that they can be given that opportunity of doing their best as many of them are ready to stardom in their football career profession.

[igebotz]

This also counts big time as one of the challenges being faced by local league games. You can’t talk about player playing domestic league at home and be able to look up their stats together with performance on the pitch, you’ll not find such data out there which makes it hard for them to be scouted for bigger offers like playing in the national team. There is a gap to be closed before we can get to see local and domestic leagues not facing these challenges when it comes to given them opportunities to represent Nigeria

It was a lot easier when we had a local Manager who understood the league system better - these foreign coaches are not going to risk their lives traveling around the country to watch our local games.

This is not me asking for a change or whatever, I'm only stating facts - no foreigners has ever given our home based players a career lift in the National team. It's a big problem

[Crakryptvest]

Based on how corrupt the system is, many talents in local level are not given the opportunity to showcase their talents cause they lack sponspor that would help them bribe scouts that would pick them to represent the country, am not saying everyone who got the opportunity to represent the country bribed their way but a lot of shits are going on bro.
 We have very good talented players in Nigeria but many of them got their dreams killed by those scouts who seek bribe from them to be picked it's very unfair.

What you pointed out is the problem, we have a system that has nothing to offer, apart from corruption, no fairness, once you have the money to bribe your way in, you will be accepted, that is why it is very difficult for us to have things done right in this country.
We keep talking, when are we going to get it right in this country? when I look at Nigeria football, it pisses me off, these days, it is from one corruption to another, when you go local football pitches to watch ball, you'll understand that we have talents, who has make attempt to pursue their football career but because they are not connected, they are been dropped, these talents are everywhere, they are been seen mainly when there's is competition in their locals.