Austin Eguavoen Questions Absence Of NPFL Players In Super Eagles AFCON 2025 Squad

Nigeria’s bronze medal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) may have brought some relief, but it has also reopened an old debate — the continued neglect of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the highest level.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director Austin Eguavoen has openly expressed disappointment over the complete absence of home-based players in the Super Eagles squad that competed in Morocco.

“Some Players May Not Even Play” – Eguavoen Speaks

In an interview with Footy Africa, Eguavoen questioned the logic behind selecting a squad with no NPFL representation, especially when some invited players barely featured throughout the tournament.

“I felt disappointed that we did not include some NPFL players in the AFCON squad,” Eguavoen said.

“Some players in the team may not even get a minute of action, so why couldn’t we include a few players from the local league? At least three or four would have been better.”

His comments reflect a growing concern among local stakeholders that domestic talent continues to be overlooked, regardless of performance or potential.

Don’t Judge NPFL By CHAN Alone

Eguavoen was quick to push back against the argument that Nigeria’s struggles at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) justify sidelining home-based players.

“The players are not bad, and just because we didn’t do well at CHAN doesn’t mean we should throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he said.

According to the former Super Eagles coach, dismissing NPFL players entirely sends the wrong message and undermines confidence in the local league.

“This is something we need to look into because it speaks volumes when players come directly from the local league into a major tournament like AFCON.”

Chelle Still Has The Final Say

Despite his concerns, Eguavoen made it clear that the NFF will not interfere with Eric Chelle’s authority as head coach.

“We can only advise him; we cannot force players on him,” he explained.

He added that Chelle has shown willingness to integrate local talents gradually, but timing and exposure remain key factors.

Call For More Local Engagement

Eguavoen believes one of the challenges lies in Chelle’s limited time spent watching domestic football firsthand.

“If he stays in the country more often, he will have better opportunities to visit venues and watch players. If he doesn’t, it becomes more difficult,” he said.

With Nigeria already looking ahead to AFCON 2027 and the next World Cup cycle, the debate over NPFL inclusion is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

For many, the question remains simple: if home-based players are never trusted on the big stage, how will the local league ever truly grow?

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