Latest News
Samson Siasia questions commitment of foreign-born Super Eagles players
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria forward and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion, Samson Siasia, has voiced concerns over the commitment of foreign-born players currently featuring for Nigeria’s senior national team.
Speaking in an interview on UTVAfrica with Emmanuel Babayaro, Siasia reflected on the evolution of player development in Nigerian football, contrasting his playing era with the present.
He argued that many of today’s Super Eagles lack a deep-rooted connection to Nigerian football, as they were born or raised abroad and never passed through the country’s domestic league system
“In our time, players developed within the Nigerian system, went to Europe, and returned stronger. Today, we are calling up players from Europe who never played in our domestic league. It’s a different scenario,” Siasia said.
The former national team coach cited *
Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, and Calvin Bassey as examples of players who fall into this category.
He further suggested that several dual-nationality players may have chosen Nigeria only after failing to break into the senior squads of their countries of birth.
“If they had the opportunity to represent those European nations, most wouldn’t be playing for Nigeria,” Siasia remarked, questioning their long-term dedication to the national cause.
His comments come at a crucial time, with the Super Eagles set to face Lesotho and Benin Republic in October as part of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
