Former Super Eagles’ defender, Ifeanyi Udeze has come out with a suggestion about the way forward for the Nigerian national team, saying players should be ready to give 120% effort for the country.
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With the Eagles haven floundered in recent time and their qualification for the 2026 World Cup appears to be in doubt, Udeze is of a view that many of the players have a lackadaisical approach to national team assignments.
Hot on the heels of his verdict that many ‘unknown problems’ are slowing down Nigerian football in general, Ifeanyi Udeze urged the Eagles’ stars to lead by example with more commitment to the team.
The former left full back recounted how players fought hard to get into the Eagles’ squad during his days and how they tackled one another after any defeat, but lamented that too many things are taken with levity nowadays.
Udeze stressed the need for better attitude among Super Eagles’ players and added: “If you want to play for our national team, you must be ready to play 120% when you come in and then you will remain.
“If you are not ready to give 120%, then you should stay out. We want only those who are ready to give 120% to come in and play.”
He went on with lamentations over the poor attitude of current generation players and urged for a change of heart, with more passion and seriousness, as it was during his heyday.
Udeze stated further: “We are taking a lot of things for granted these days. During our days, we knew we had to fight for everything.
“We fought to play in the team, and we fight among ourselves whenever we lose a match. That’s why I still remember what happened in 2005, when we could not qualify for Germany 2006 World Cup.
“We needed a win in our last match against Angola in Kano to qualify for the World Cup, but they came and picked a draw. I was in that team, and I remember how sad we all were after the game.
“After the game, we went back to our hotelIfeanyi Udeze in sorrow, and it was quarrels all through the night. Nobody was happy.
“We broke a lot of things in the hotel where we stayed. We did a lot of damage there because we were fighting ourselves. That showed we could feel the pain.
“But, these days, when the Super Eagles lose a game, the next thing you see them do is get a video, post online, dancing, feeling happy with themselves and relax,” Udeze submitted.
