Former Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has delivered a blunt assessment of the attitude displayed by several home-based players invited to the national team, accusing them of lacking the hunger, ambition, and competitiveness required to thrive at the international level.
With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco fast approaching, the AFCON 2013 winner expressed frustration over what he describes as a “complacent mentality” among Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) invitees.
“They Don’t Compete” — Omeruo Laments Drop in Intensity
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Omeruo pulled no punches as he highlighted a concerning trend within the squad.
“Most of the players who come to the national team from the local leagues now, they just come to complete the team, to train. They don’t compete,” he said.
He stressed that a national team call-up should be treated as a serious fight for a shirt, not merely an opportunity to gain visibility.
“You have to come into the national team with the confidence that you want to be selected in games, not just coming to say, ‘Okay, I just came to complete the team, get the experience, and move on.’”
Omeruo, who has earned over 60 caps for Nigeria and played across Europe, emphasized that the Super Eagles environment demands intensity, discipline, and a winning mindset.
Unity Cup Example: National Team Used as a Shop Window
The former Chelsea centre-back also referenced Nigeria’s participation in the Unity Cup in London, revealing that several home-based invitees saw the tournament primarily as a platform to secure moves abroad rather than contribute competitively to the national setup.
“A few even went to the Unity Cup in London, and after that tournament, they went on to sign for clubs overseas,” he noted.
His comments reignite long-standing debates over whether NPFL players are sufficiently motivated or technically equipped to compete with Europe-based professionals in the national team.
AFCON 2025: Selection Battle Already Tilting?
With head coach Eric Chelle set to announce his final AFCON squad in the coming weeks, Omeruo fears that the mindset issue could severely dent the chances of home-based players making the team.
Despite calls from fans for a balanced selection that rewards domestic talent, the defender believes the lack of competitiveness from NPFL invitees makes the coaching staff’s decisions straightforward.
Unless a significant mindset shift occurs, Omeruo warns, home-based players will continue to lose ground to their Europe-based counterparts, especially in high-stakes tournaments like AFCON.
