Jose Peseiro has vowed that players will be chosen for the national team regardless of whether they play locally or abroad as long as they are talented enough.
The new manager’s statements will be welcomed by those plying their trade in the local league, after his predecessor, Gernot Rohr, was chastised by some parts of the media for ignoring NPFL players during his five-year tenure with the Super Eagles
Eight home-based players are presently in Nigeria’s squad.
“The national team is open for everybody. Players who play locally, and outside the country. The ones from the academy, it’s open for everyone,” Peseiro told Omasports ahead of his first game in charge of the three-time African champions.
“But they need to know, that first, they need to have quality. Second, demand and third, passion. If they can have these three points, they can play here.
“Of course we have many players, not only eleven, we have twenty, thirty, forty. We have many players to choose from.
“The most important thing is the team, more than players. In this moment, we need to create group spirit and know what’s best for the national team.” he concluded.
The Super Eagles, a largely under-strength squad fought courageously and commendably against CONCACAF ‘s perennial champions Mexico in an entertaining game that ended 2-1 at the iconic AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Saturday night.
