Nigerian former international Paul Okoku has renewed the argument for giving domestic-based footballers a real place in the Super Eagles’ senior plans, insisting that home-based invitees should be used in matches rather than treated as “training materials.”
With Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle preparing to announce his squad for the 2026 Unity Cup, Okoku believes the Franco-Malian manager should appreciate the value that home-based players bring to the national team setup.
Okoku conceded that professionals plying their trade abroad often enjoy higher-level coaching, improved technical development, and more advanced training environments across Europe. Still, he urged Nigeria to strike a balance by combining overseas talent with players from the local league.
In his view, “Nigeria’s national team selection has to achieve a clear and fair equilibrium between players who are based overseas and those who play at home. The principle is straightforward: pick the best performers, no matter where they are currently playing.”
He added that repeatedly ignoring domestic players can damage the message the system sends. “When home-based players are continually left out, it starts communicating—intentionally or not—that the local league is inferior or only a temporary stop before bigger opportunities. When a country loses confidence in its own development pathway, it gradually loses its football identity.”
Okoku also stressed that the advantages enjoyed by players in Europe do not automatically translate into superiority. “There is no doubt that footballers in Europe experience better infrastructure, more tactical education, and tougher, faster competition. But that does not mean home-based players are incapable or undeserving.”
