AFCON 2023: Sunday Oliseh supports Odion Ighalo’s stance on NPFL players

Former Super Eagles captain and head coach, Sunday Oliseh believes there are no superstars like the past to stop the invitation of more players from the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nationa (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has joined the rest of the participating teams to submit a provisional squad to CAF.

The list which has led to several heated debates about the treatment of home-based players, has only three players from the home leagues who are goalkeepers — Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC), Christian Nwoke (Sporting Lagos FC), and Obasogie Amas (Bendel Insurance).

Recall that NigeriaFootball had earlier reported that 2019 AFCON Golden Boot winner Odion Ighalo believes more outfield players from the NPFL should have made the list.

In response, Oliseh buttresses his point stating that more NPFL players should be making the provisional list as the Super Eagles team can’t boast of superstars like in the past.

The former Ajax star acknowledged the shift in times, comparing the current squad to the 90s and 2000s teams that boasted international superstars and dominated global football.

“If we had superstars like in the ’90s and early 2000s playing at the very top world club sides, Champions League, etc., one could understand the absence of home-based in a 40-man call-up,” Oliseh shared on his X page.

“Haba, they just want to disregard everything that is home-based in favor of football business! Time we acted!”