Abu Dhabi, UAE – Na wetin we go talk? As FIFA don double World Cup spots for Asia, e be like say countries dey rush go grab foreign-born players to help dem qualify. This Thursday, when UAE face Iraq for the last round of qualification, over half of dem starting players go be foreign-born (who go even sabi wetin dem go do without dem?).
With Qatar don open door for 48 teams instead of the normal 32, countries weak for football like UAE don start dey chop talent from abroad. Shaji Prabhakaran wey dey work for AFC Committee gree talk say naturalising players fit fast-track countries to World Cup glory. “More spots mean more hope. If dem get better players, dem fit shine for the qualifiers and go make dem reach the World Cup,” e talk.
UAE dey use Brazilian players like Lucas Pimenta, Marcus Meloni, and Caio Lucas as dem don fully naturalise. Even Argentina boys like Nicolás Giménez and Gastón Suárez don come help the squad. The coach wey dem carry come from Romania fit build full starting XI wey no born for the UAE (na wah!).
No be only UAE dey carry foreign talent o. Indonesia don gather plenty European talents as dem dey try reclaim their football glory, making dem reach the last 12 for the World Cup qualifiers for the first time since 1938. Dem dey send Dutch-based players wey get Indonesian roots straight to the embassy for passport matter (talk about quick access!).
But no be all sweet stories. Malaysia recently knack themselves for wahala as seven foreign players wey dem no suppose use still play for dem, and dem don collect one-year suspension. Talk about sharp sharp lose lose!
Even with all this foreign fury, fans dey rush to Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium since no ticket dey left for the Iraq match. This one go show say football na finish-for-everybody relationship. Who care wetin happen, everybody wan watch dem country shine – after all na the World Cup we dey talk about!
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