Is The Sports Minister Right To Call Out Dual Nationality Super Eagles Players For Poor Performance?

Quite an interesting statement attributed to Sports Minister John Enoh in this article.

In a period where Super Eagles are faltering on the pitch and sliding in Fifa rankings, it is controversial quotes allegedly from administrators making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

And there appears to be a pattern here of questioning the competency, hunger and drive of the players.

“We have in the Super Eagles about 90 per cent of players not born in Nigeria. Do they have the spirit, the fire of a Nigerian player born in Nigeria?,” the Sports Minister asked in an interview with Eagle7 FM.

It is hard for me to comment on this rethorical question because it deserves an answer from the Honourable Sports Minister himself before I render my opinion.

And the question is simple: what is the spirit of a Nigerian player born in Nigeria? Somebody should please obtain an answer from him to this question.

Nigeria spirit of what? Focus, concentration, drive, determination, never say die attitude, patriotism, commitment, painstaking or chivalry or even physicality?

No one player can exhibit all of these attributes. But there are very many on these I can boldly slap the names of all the dual nationality players called up in the last Super Eagles assignment against.

Lookman, Iwobi, Bassey, Ajayi and Osayi-Samuel, Dele-Bashiru all showed heart and dedication in the last games.

Skills are different from the Nigerian spirit that I think the Sports Minister is alluding to. So, I will not speak to the skills of dual nationality players even though their talents are undeniable.

The minister went on to suggest that some of the players called up recently are not good enough for the Super Eagles. Again, against which standard is he measuring these players against?

Also, I don’t think he Sports Minister got his maths right. He said 90% of the Super Eagles team comprise of dual nationality players but my maths reveal that just 26% of Finidi’s Super Eagles are dual nationality players.

Even at the last Afcon, only 35% of the entire squad are made up of dual nationality players.

So, where did our honorable sports minister get his sums from?

Saying 90% of the Super Eagles are made up of dual nationality players and that some players in the are not good enough only presupposes that certain dual nationality players aren’t good enough.

If this reading of mine is accurate, then it is very disappointing that our sports minister can make such an inaccurate statement.

Also, that statement can stoke division among the team at a time when the seeds of unity and love are to planted.

No section of the Super Eagles should be scapegoated for recent failings. Whether dual nationality or indigenous, all the players should be pulling their weight in equal measures. And, under Peseiro, Rohr and Eguavoen (in Afcon group stages) we know these players can be high achievers.

But, when the coaches run out of ideas or the NFF doesn’t lay the management or financial motivational groundwork for success, then the same players start to struggle.

So, rather than unfairly focus on dual nationality players, perhaps the sports minister should look closer at the administrative aspect of the game and work to get that right.

Dual nationality players are definitely pulling their weight on the pitch. Off the pitch, well that is quite another matter.

I seem to recollect Rohr having indiscipline issues with some players during his reign including players sneaking off to see women when in camp. Incidentally, quite a number of players implicated in these acts are indigenous players. In fact it is an indigenous star players who allegedly insulted the coach and a section of fans recently.

Are these unsavoury elements of the Nigerian fire and spirit the minister is talking about?

As the Super Eagles plan for future assignments, this is not the time to segment players along birthplaces for criticisms.

Rather, all efforts should be directed at unifying all the players behind the common objectives of reviving our world cup qualification hopes and raising the profile of the national team on the continent and beyond with superior performances on the pitch.