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Paul Edeh Urges Super Falcons Coach to Include Home-Based Players in WAFCON Squad

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Paul Edeh Urges Super Falcons Coach to Include Home-Based Players in WAFCON Squad

Chairman of the Benue State Football Association and proprietor of Naija Ratels, Paul Edeh, has called on Justin Madugu, head coach of the Super Falcons, to ensure that home-based players are not overlooked ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations squad selection.

Speaking on the composition of the national team, Edeh acknowledged the importance of foreign-based players, who form the backbone of the squad.

“The core will be abroad,” he said.

However, he warned that excluding domestic league players entirely would be a mistake with serious consequences.

“It will be disastrous,” he stressed.

According to Edeh, Nigeria’s local league continues to produce talented players who deserve recognition and opportunities at the highest level.

“We have quality at home,” he implied.

He argued that including home-based players not only strengthens competition within the team but also contributes to the growth and relevance of the domestic league.

“It’s important for development,” he noted.

Edeh also emphasized that a balanced squad, combining foreign and local talents, is essential for building a strong and sustainable national team.

“We need both,” he added.

His comments echo similar calls from stakeholders who believe that Nigerian football must do more to integrate domestic players into the national setup.

As preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations continue, the spotlight will be on selection decisions and whether they reflect this growing demand for inclusivity.

For Edeh, the message is clear: do not ignore home-based players—because in football, talent exists everywhere; it just needs to be given a chance.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.