Maigari Slams Austin Eguavoen

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has expressed displeasure over the number of foreign-based players the chief coach of the U-23 Eagles, Austin Eguavoen invited for next month’s Olympic playoffs in Morocco.

Maigari, who is worried about the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian football, said the non-inclusion of local players in the U-23 Eagles is not in the best interest of the game in the country.

“I am not satisfied with the selection of foreign-based players for the U-23 Dream Team. I expect the coach to invite some local players to make the trip to Morocco, but the way things are going, it seems that the coach wants to rely mainly on foreign-based players for the Olympic playoff,” he said.

Maigari advised Eguavoen to look inwards and pick some local players along with the foreign-based ones in the final selection, adding that there are local players in the Nigeria nleague who are good enough to make the team.

“It is crazy for any coach to use only foreign based players for the U-23 Eagles’ Olympic playoffs. I wish Eguavoen will have a rethink and allow local players to shine,” he said.

—Sunday Akintoye