It’s important for the Nigeria Premier Football League to improve in order to nurture local talents for the national team, says Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh.

The Minister expressed his concerns during an exclusive interview with BRL, highlighting the need for more homegrown players in the Super Eagles.

Recently the Super Eagles played friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

Out of the 24 players invited by Jose Peseiro, only Ojo Olorunleke plies his trade in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Enoh is however unhappy with the lack of home based players in the Super Eagles ranks.

” The thought I have was , in the past, we didn’t have a national team dominated by foreign based professionals.

Now we also have a situation where the national team coach stays abroad and visits our players in their different clubs.

” This must not be the case, we need to have national team coaches, live in Nigeria, with interest in our local league.

” The credibility of this league, will play a part in the number of the players that we are going to have in the national
team. “

Enoh added that all hands must be on deck to build a strong domestic league for the players to showcase their talents and eventually contribute to the national team’s success.

“Sometimes last week I said, the state of the local league is critical and important. Nigerians seem to have lost interest in watching the local league.”

” I don’t think it’s proper for a player to have an automatic shirt in the national team, just because he plays abroad at the moment .”

” I’m looking forward to the time when everyone will struggle for a place in the national team and players from the local league will be part of the team,” He concluded.