Breaking News: Over-paid, Self-absorbed Footballer Will Condescend to Play For His Country

In recent news, New Castle United’s Obafemi Martins deigns to play for his country because “all the players want to be there to fulfill the big dream.”

Where, I ask were all the players when we got beat by Colombia? Where were they during the humiliating draw with Jamaica? But mention the World Cup and everyone comes running. As I have said before, Nigerian players need to internalize the fact that playing for your country is a privilege and an honor, not charity work that has the potential of making you look good (I’m talking to you, Joseph Yobo). And your national team does not improve by key talent missing training sessions and friendlies intended to hone team cohesion and technique.

However, the blame for this incredulous situation, one in which some players decide if and when they feel like playing, does not rest entirely with the players. Coach Shaibu Amodu is the chief enabler of this nonsense, with his myopic insistence on using foreign based players. Like that limitation is not enough, he “prefer[s] to stick to players [he has] worked with and who understand [his] ideas.” You read that right. Coach Amodu is telling his players that as long as we have a history, you can do whatever you want and still be assured a spot on the national team; we just hope you have the time and the inclination to honor our request. On a related note, I see Yobo was called up for the fixture against Mozambique as well (see below).

I was very excited when Amodu was renamed coach, and I thought that, this time, the Super Eagles really had everything it takes to go all the way. Talent-wise, we still do, but the leadership vacuum now seems insurmountable. Amodu has been criticized on all sides, and I hesitate to pile on. However, he needs to show his players some tough love, and also make them realize that they are not special. I know that sounds counter intuitive to a coach’s confidence-building task, but trust me, confidence is not a problem for our boys. Indeed, they could do with a bit less confidence, since they have nothing concrete like trophies to point to.

New rules need to be established for the national team. No matter your exploits in England, France, Italy or wherever, you need to prove yourself for NIGERIA on a consistent basis. There is no room for complacency at the national level and the players need to understand that they will be cut and/or relegated unless they display DESIRE, something that has been earnestly missed in the last few games.

The squad for the next qualifying game against Mozambique is listed below:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda, Israel)
Defenders: Yusuf Mohammed, Obinna Nwaneri (both FC Sion, Switzerland), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Danny Shittu (Bolton, England), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Holland)
Midfielders: Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen, Holland), Jon Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Sani Kaita (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain)
Strikers: Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United, England), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Germany), Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan, Italy), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge, Belgium), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotive Moscow, Russia)