Eagles need tough, committed players to win AFCON, Lawal says

Former international, Dimeji Lawal, has said that the Super Eagles need only tough and committed players to win the forthcoming Cote d’Ivoire 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Lawal, who expressed concern over Coach Jose Peseiro’s continued experiment with different players in games, said the team cannot survive the Nations Cup fire if the coach builds his team with more overseas-born playersthan those born in the country.

He noted that the Cup of Nations is a competition reputable for showing the high resilience, power show and skillful nature of African players, adding that Nigerians should be worried that the Eagles have no solid team just a few weeks to the competition.

“I am not happy with Super Eagles’ preparation for the 2024 AFCON, which will start just next month.The coach is still inviting overseas-born players for different games.

“That a player is performing well in the English League, German Bundesliga or Spanish La Liga does not mean the player will be outstanding at the AFCON. It is a different championship meant for tough players.

“Kanu Nwankwo, who was the best in Europe during his days, could not score at the AFCON throughout his career as a footballer.This shows how tough the AFCON competition is.

“Players like Victor Osimhen,Chukwueze, Ndidi, Iheanacho and others who grew up in Nigeria and played in our domestic football system, understand the seriousness and how to approach games with African teams.”

A player that does not have attachment to Nigeria cannot go the extra mile to get positive result.

“How many times have you heard that a foreign-born Nigerian player get injured playing for the country. We need serious, selfless and committed players to win AFCON.

“You cannot expose overseas-born Nigerian players to the scotching sun of Africa and expect good result.What happened in the Zimbabwe and Lesotho World Cup qualifiers are clear testimony of what I am saying. Nations Cup is not for players that lack patriotic zeal and commitment to die on the pitch to achieve results for the country,” he said.