Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen, has expressed concern over Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s squad selection for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Eguavoen questioned the decision to leave out players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) despite the competition’s importance.

Speaking on the issue, Eguavoen said he was disappointed that no fewer than four NPFL players were included in Chelle’s 28-man squad. The team list was dominated by foreign-based stars such as Victor Osimhen, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams, leaving local league players without representation.

According to Eguavoen, the AFCON squad could have accommodated home-based talents, especially since some selected players may not feature during the tournament. He argued that including local players would not only reward performance in the domestic league but also boost confidence and development within Nigerian football.

The former Super Eagles coach stressed that inviting at least three or four NPFL players would have sent a strong message about the value of the local league. He added that giving home-based players exposure at major tournaments like AFCON is vital for the growth of Nigerian football and talent discovery.