Ex West Bromwich defender Udeze insist NPFL players are good enough for National team

Former West Bromwich Albion defender and Nigeria worldwide Ifeanyi Udeze has leapt to the defence of the home-based Tremendous Eagles Group B that did not qualify for the 2023 African Cup of Nations Championship in Algeria by insisting that the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League (NPFL) has high quality gamers to play within the group coached by Jose Peseiro.

The Salisu Yusuf-led aspect overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit to drive the competition to penalty shootout however the Nigerian aspect misplaced 5-4 after the spot kicks after lacking one among their efforts from 12 yards.

Udeze talking on Brila FM Lagos on Tuesday backed a comment made by former Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu that the NPFL have high quality gamers ok to play underneath José Peseiro.

Consideration has shifted to the September 27 worldwide pleasant in opposition to former African champions Algeria in Oran amid fears that the home-based Eagles might not make the reduce.

“If the house based mostly Tremendous Eagles did not win the reverse leg of their 2023 African Nations Championship qualifier 2-0 in Abuja, I might have mentioned that there is no good participant within the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League (NPFL),” Udeze acknowledged.

“However I assist what (goalkeeper coach of the group) Ike Shorounmu has mentioned. Nigerians shouldn’t hand over on the home-based Eagles gamers and in addition conclude that the home-based gamers are usually not ok for the Tremendous Eagles Group A.”

Udeze attributed the eventual defeat of the Nigerian aspect to attributable to ill-luck.

“The CHAN Eagles misplaced finally on penalty shootout which is a ‘fortunate sport’ in the event you like. What issues was that the Eagles canceled the 2-0 deficit.

“It is simply unlucky that they may not qualify for the 2023 CHAN no because of lacking one among their spot kicks,” Udeze famous.

The house-based Eagles have thus did not qualify for 2 consecutive CHAN tournaments.