Jose Peseiro, the coach of the Super Eagles, has emphasized that only quality players from the local league will be considered for national team selection. Speaking at a news conference in Abidjan ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening match against Equatorial Guinea, Peseiro expressed his readiness to invite top performers but stressed the need for Nigerians to recognize that selected players are ultimately from Nigeria, regardless of their club locations.

Peseiro, a Portuguese coach, expressed his desire to witness more local league games and acknowledged that some talented players in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) tend to leave the country after a successful season. While not ruling out the inclusion of local league players, he emphasized the importance of assessing players for their qualities and capacities.

“I have not said that no player in the local league can play for the Super Eagles, but I need to see if you have the qualities and capacities to play,” stated Peseiro. He affirmed that if he identifies local players with the required quality, he will extend invitations, highlighting the coach’s responsibility to choose the best players.

Peseiro also addressed criticism he has faced for not selecting more local league players, pointing out that counterparts in other African countries typically have one or two local players in their teams. He called for improvements in Africa’s local leagues to enhance the overall quality of talent on the continent.