Former Super Eagles midfielder Duke Udi don send strong message to head coach Eric Chelle about di way e dey select players for di national team. Udi tok say Chelle must change im selection criteria and learn from successful teams like England and Senegal, wey dey pick players based on merit and form.
Udi yarn say every Nigerian footballer, no matter where dem dey play, suppose get chance to represent di country if dem dey perform well for dia club. But e warn say di national team no be rehabilitation centre, so no invite player wey no dey active for club.
Di issue come up because Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali don dey clubless since January wen e leave Chippa United by mutual consent. Di 29-year-old no don play competitive football since e help Nigeria win bronze for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for Morocco.
Chelle don drop Nwabali for March international friendlies against Iran and Jordan, and e go still leave am out for upcoming Unity Cup tournament for London and high-profile friendlies against Portugal and Poland for June. Instead, di coach go invite goalkeeper from Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for di Unity Cup.
Udi advise say Nwabali no suppose get call-up until e find club and start playing again. ‘Nwabali no be bad goalkeeper, but for now e dey clubless, so how you go bring clubless player enter national team?’ Udi ask for Brila FM interview.
Di situation dey make Nwabali position as Nigeria number one goalkeeper dey threaten, especially with Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo wey FIFA don approve im international switch. Nwabali don get link with Kaizer Chiefs, Simba SC and Al Ahly Benghazi, but no concrete deal don happen.
Chelle don confirm say im selection go give chance to new dual nationality players and NPFL stars for Unity Cup, but di Portugal and Poland friendlies na for top stars. Di coach reportedly dey disappointed with Nwabali decision to terminate im contract without clear plan.
Udi urge Chelle to copy di merit-based system of successful teams, saying: ‘If you look at Senegal national team, dem pick players based on merit and who dey in form. You must prove yourself to get call-up.’
Di former midfielder add say every Nigerian wey want play for Super Eagles suppose dey chosen on merit, not based on where dem come from or who dem represent. ‘Once you dey qualified, good enough, and performing well at your club, then you dey entitled to play for national team,’ e tok.
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