Niger Tornadoes technical adviser Majin Mohammed has lauded Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle for his decision to include home-based players in the national team setup for the Unity Cup Tournament in London.
Mohammed described the integration of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players with their foreign-based counterparts as "an healthy development" that could significantly benefit the national team.
"At least he (Coach Eric Chelle) showed that given the home boys opportunity to mix with the foreign base players Super Eagles can go places," Mohammed told BenriNews.
Local Talent Recognition
The Malian tactician Chelle had invited 10 players from the domestic league to join the Super Eagles squad for the tournament in London, signaling a shift in selection policy that many local coaches have been advocating for.
Mohammed, whose Niger Tornadoes team is affectionately known as the Ikon Allah Boys, also singled out Papa Daniel Mustapha for special praise, highlighting the player's work ethic in the national team setup.
"He is very hard working, discipline and always ready to learn. He is doing his best, trying to adapt to the system playing with the big boys," the coach remarked.
Growing Confidence in Local Players
The inclusion of NPFL players in the Unity Cup Tournament represents a significant vote of confidence in the domestic league, which has often been overlooked in favor of foreign-based professionals.
Football analysts have suggested that this approach could not only strengthen the national team by widening the talent pool but also motivate local players to raise their performance levels with the prospect of national team call-ups.
The Super Eagles' performance in the Unity Cup Tournament will be closely watched to assess how well the home-based players integrate with their foreign-based teammates and whether this selection policy will continue for future competitions.
