Former Enyimba striker Victor Ezeji has stated that foreign-born players in the Super Eagles should be blamed for the team’s poor performance.

The NPFL legend contends that many foreign players do not possess the dedication required to represent the national team and continue to demonstrate poor commitment.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Brila FM, Ezeji said, “For me, I think it’s the players; they’ve not shown commitment to playing for the national team. Their attitude has always been very poor.

“From the first game against Lesotho, I was at the stadium with Ikpeba, and we were saying the same thing—they were not showing commitment.

“From the Amaju era, when we moved from foreign-based to foreign-born players, I knew we were in trouble. These foreign-born players don’t even know the passion Nigerians have for the national team.

Former NFF President and former Super Eagles coach, Amaju Pinnick (l), Gernot Rohr (r).

They don’t have relatives here who can convey the country’s problems to them. All they do is fly from their base to the airport, from the airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the stadium, and then back to the hotel, the airport, and their base.”

“They don’t even have the affiliation with Nigerians to understand how Nigerians feel when we lose, draw, or win a game.

William Troost-Ekong scored Nigeria’s winning goal against Cote d’Ivoire in their group A match of the Africa Cup of Nations.

“They are not committed, knowing that they have to give their all for this country. This is our national team; we need to show that commitment.”

Ezeji further criticized the selection process, stating, “It is like the national team has been willed to certain players. Week in, week out, it is only them with no competition, whether they are in form or not.

“Every national team should call up players based on their current form, not on past performances. But in Nigeria, it has always been different. Players are invited because an agent or somebody is backing them and pushing for their inclusion.

“That’s why there is no competition any longer, and that is why the players are not showing commitment.”

“I don’t want to start calling names one after the other, but overall, I think the players need to be held responsible—they’ve not shown commitment.”