Fashanu Carpets Nigerian Players

Former Wimbledon FC player, and Nigerian British-born footballer, John Fashanu, has revealed why Nigerian players are not doing well in their respective clubs in Europe.

Fashanu said most of the Nigerian players plying their trade in Europe fail to live up to expectations because they lack the rudiments of the game before starting their professional football career in Europe.

“We need to teach our players the basic rules of the game so that when they get to Europe they will be able to compete with their counterparts in their various club,” said Fashanu, who represented England at full international level gaining two caps against Chile and Scotland in a friendly tournament in May 1989, due to his good form at club level for Wimbledon.

“It is sad today that we have mediocre players in Europe because they were not thoroughly taught about the game while in Nigeria before moving to Europe. Until we teach our players the basics before we can see our players playing well both in clubs and at the national level,” he said on Ray Power FM early today

Fashanu appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi after his team failed to beat Rwanda in Kigali in the first leg of Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

—Sunday Akintoye