Juwon Oshaniwa celebrates Nigeria’s AFCON 2013 triumph. Copyright: Imago
Former Super Eagles and Hearts full-back Juwon Oshaniwa has aired his disappointment about the poor state of the Nigerian domestic league, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 35-year-old came through the NPFL, breaking into the home-based Super Eagles team, before eventually making his debut for the A team in 2012.
Oshaniwa, as a home-based defender, represented Nigeria at the AFCON 2013 tournament before moving abroad.
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Super Eagles: Oshaniwa disappointed with the state of the NPFL
The former Ashdod defender revealed that there used to be a pathway for players in the NPFL to break into the national team, citing the examples of Sunday Mba and Geoffrey Oboabana.
Now, the huge decline in the league has seen fewer players get a call-up to the Nigerian National team in recent years.
While many have called out Eric Chelle for not including NPFL players since he arrived at the National team, Oshaniwa believes the way the NPFL is set up hasn’t given the coach much to work with.
“The level of the league right now needs a lot of intervention,” the AFCON 2013 winner said in an interview with Eagles Tracker.
“There are still many things that must be done to improve the league. If NPFL players rarely get invited to the Super Eagles, then we must ask what the future is for them.
“When the league improves, more players from home will naturally earn opportunities. We need serious intervention to raise the standard of the local league.
“Nigeria has talent everywhere, but we must build a system that allows those talents to grow,” the former Hearts defender concluded.
It is widely believed that Eric Chelle will give opportunities to newer faces during the March International break.