Former Super Eagles defender Bright Omokaro, said the present squad of the national team looks fragile due to the absence of quality players.
Omokara, a no nonsense defender popular for his exploits at at 1988 African Nation’s Cup submitted that players who cannot make the starting 11 in their respect clubs easily get into the Super Eagles unlike during his days when the team was very competitive.
“It is sad that we have a handful of players who are not first choice players in their respective teams, and they are representing Nigeria at the Nations Cup; this is unfortunate,” said Omokaro ahead of the 2024 AFCON tournament starting January 13 in Cote d’Ivoire.
“The easiest way to get into the Super Eagles these days is to just play for any foreign club, it could be a third tier division, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re regarded as a foreign player.
“In my days the likes of John Fasanu know they have to go the extra mile and work extra hard to get into the Super Eagles squad.
” If you adorn the Nigerian jersey, you have obviously proven yourself to be worthy.’’
Omokaro a.k.a 10-10 added that the exclusion of home-based players was disturbing.
“I thought we’ve got past this. I don’t know if it’s possible for it to be law in Nigeria that every team should have at least 40 per cent of home-based players.
“By doing so, we are consciously developing our football. I know times have changed but if it worked for our football then, we should consider it.’’
Omokaro alongside Henry Nwosu and Sylvanus Okpalla were invited from the Flying Eagles to the Super Eagles squad for the AFCON 1980. They were the youngest members of the title winning team.
In the 1988 tournament Omokaro during a semi-final game against Algeria made impact on the game. The Eagles were playing one man down after Ademola Adeshina was given the marching orders.
A couple of minutes later Omokaro ensured that Algerian dangerman Rabah Madjer was stretchered out of the game never to return. The Eagles won the game after a thrill 9-8 penalty shootout full time scores was 1-1. The team however lost to Cameroon 1-0 in the final, they returned to a heroes welcome and former military president Ibrahim Babaginda nicknamed Omokaro 10-10.
