Are We Seeing Enough Fresh Faces in the Super Eagles?

Whilst a number of Super Eagles fans have openly expressed frustration at what they see as the recycling of the same old aging, tired legs for the Super Eagles under Coach Eric Chelle – at a time when we should be rebuilding – I have to say that I do not share this sentiment with them.

The current crop of Super Eagles players, particularly those have stuck around for the past 5 years have a baggage of World Cup qualification failures drowning out their desirability. This I can understand, this, again doesn’t make me jump into the bandwagon of advocating a mass clearout of these players: that, for me, would be crazy.

You wanna know what I think? I think Eric Chelle is using a philosophy that I would like to call “natural wastage” to gradually revamp the Super Eagles.

Natural wastage: rather than just stop inviting some players like Onuachu, Chukwueze, Simon - the usual suspects - I think Chelle is systematically allowing these players to play themselves out of relevance in a natural manner that leaves no doubt of the wastage involved in their continued invitation.

Think about William Troost-Ekong. The invitation and rise of Benjamin Frederick led Ekong to see the writing on the wall, so he jumped before being pushed.

From defence all the way to attack, several players' continued Super Eagles status is hanging by the same thin thread that snapped under the weight of pressure felt by Ekong at the time.

Let's start from defence: Old timers like Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, and Bright Osayi-Samuel will have to sit up or be shipped out in favour of the fresh legs of Benjamin Frederick, Emmanuel Fernandez, Chibuke Nwaiwu, Ryan Alebiosu, Felix Agu and perhaps Igoh Ogbu.

In attack, newbie Tolu Arokodare was given a crack at the whip but he lashed his own backside instead with pitiful performances. Newbie Akor Adams took his place and has become a staple, slowly edging oldie Chukwueze into the sidelines.

Winger Olakunle Olusegun was also given the chance to chance his way into the squad but, like the Biblical prodigal son, he squandered the opportunity spectacularly.

Others like Philip Otele, Yira Sor, Salim Fago Lawal are seriously breathing down the necks of Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu Samuel Chukwueze and injured/out-of-favour Kelechi Iheanacho.

My point being, the oldies, the ones who failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups might continue to enjoy invitations but their places in the team are under unbearable strain.

In midfield, where is the one-time rising star Fisayo Dele-Bashiru? The last I saw of him, he was playing right fullback in the Afcon because competition for places is hitting him hard.

To be honest, I have been frustrated about the midfield. I don't think the trio of Iwobi, Ndidi and Onyeka is feeling the heat like others. If they are fit, they will play. I think newbies like Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Christantus Uche, and Tochukwu Nnadi should be made to nip harder at the heels of the old-timers in midfield.

Overall, I think the Super Eagles squad is going through regeneration. It is just not doing so at surface level. The regeneration is benign, gradual, incremental. But fans want a radical overhaul which for me makes no sense, which for me is reckless.

Like I said, give it time, several players will play themselves out of relevance which will create the space for worthy alternatives to take their place.