Former Super Eagles winger Baldwin Bazuaye has applauded head coach Eric Chelle for inviting home-based players to the national team, describing the move as a bold step toward healthy competition within the squad.
Reacting to Chelle’s decision to include 10 players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in the squad for the ongoing Unity Cup in London and the upcoming friendly against Russia, Bazuaye said the strategy will keep overseas-based players on their toes.
“This will bring stiff but healthy competition for shirts. It will help the team overall because everyone will fight to earn their place,” said the 56-year-old former international.
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| Baldwin Bazuaye |
Bazuaye, a member of Nigeria’s historic U-16 World Cup-winning squad at China '85, praised Chelle’s method of using separate player groups for different matches, saying it reflects thoughtful squad assessment.
“Let him keep trying them to get his best. Playing the ones for the Unity Cup separately from those for the Russia match shows that he knows what he’s doing,” he stated.
He noted that the inclusion of NPFL players must have come after thorough scouting, suggesting Chelle sees real potential in the domestic league.
“He must have checked if they have the quality to play in the Super Eagles. Maybe he has seen one or two who can even do better than some from Europe,” Bazuaye added.
The ex-forward, who played for Bendel Insurance, Julius Berger, and Ionikos of Greece before returning to the domestic scene, believes the move could break the sense of entitlement among foreign-based players.
“Inviting the home-based players is a challenge to them to give their best, and a signal to the foreign pros that they no longer have guaranteed spots,” Bazuaye concluded.
Chelle’s approach has sparked optimism among stakeholders hoping to see a more competitive and inclusive Super Eagles squad ahead of upcoming international fixtures.
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