Afcon 2023: NPFL players deserve Super Eagles call-up – Sikiru Alimi

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Remo Stars forward, Sikiru Alimi believes that players from the Nigeria Premier Football League deserve call-ups to the Super Eagles’ roster for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

With only three goalkeepers from the NPFL making Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2023 Afcon, NPFL enthusiasts and players feel more players from the local scene deserve more slots in the Super Eagles list.

And Alimi, joint top scorer in the ongoing 2023/2024 season, with his 10th for the Sky Blue Stars against Lobi Stars on Thursday, weighed in on the increasingly bias against local talents.

“Generally, it’s not any statement,” Alimi told www.bsnsports.com.ng

“We the NPFL players have been doing enough, working hard to get a call-up. But this is not a statement for me. I have been scoring goals and making assists. I just want to keep doing that.”

“I feel really delighted because the goal came at the right time we needed it. It was a team effort and I’m glad we got the absolute three points.”

Apart from three goalkeepers from the NPFL; Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC), Christian Nwoke (Sporting Lagos), and Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance), there was no further player in Nigeria’s 40-man provisional squad.

The top two scorers in the 2023/2024 NPFL season have 20 goals between themselves, with Alimi and Bayelsa United’s Robert Mizo both jointly-leading the chart with 10 goals each from 15 games.