National Teams
Bright Omokaro criticizes current Super Eagles’ commitment
By Saheed Afolabi
Former Nigeria international Bright Omokaro has expressed disappointment with the current national team players’ commitment to representing the country.
Reflecting on his playing days, Omokaro highlighted a stark contrast in dedication and quality between past and present Super Eagles squads.
Omokaro emphasized that during his era, national team call-ups were reserved for players who demonstrated unwavering commitment and impact, adding that players who failed to meet the team’s high standards of quality and class were simply not selected.
“When you are invited, you have to show that you can do it. We always had time to train together before the match proper; there was commitment back then,” Omokaro stated.
“If you are stubborn and you don’t know the job, they drop you. Your stubbornness has to be in compliance with what you can offer because the team wanted to win. If you are not part of the system and your impact is not there, then your stubbornness is absolutely nothing.”
He criticized the current Super Eagles squad for lacking seriousness and patriotism. Omokaro pointed out that, unlike in the past, where every player was driven by the desire to win, today’s team includes players whose dedication to the national cause is questionable.
“There is no seriousness in this present team. You can singlehandedly pick out the ones that want to win. In those days, everybody wanted to win; you would see that seriousness in the team. But now, they even invite players you’ve never heard of to the national team. It is pathetic,” he remarked.
Omokaro’s comments underscore a growing concern among football veterans and fans about the current state of the Super Eagles, calling for a renewed focus on commitment and patriotism within the squad.
