Odegbami faults integration of Diaspora Eagles
Odegbami faults how the players were thrown in the thick of the action, without proper integration.
The Nigeria Football Federation have been criticised for disrupting the structure of national teams by constantly inviting foreign-born players.
The latest are Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey who flopped on their home debut during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ghana last month.
While many criticised the players for failing to live up to expectations, Odegbami in an interview with brila.net faults how the players were thrown in the thick of the action, without proper integration.
“The reality is that African football is different from Europe. A player has to adapt to this level. So when you are born in Europe, you must u have to learn the game in Africa.
“That’s why some of them struggle here. The game is more physical here and the mentality is different as well.
“They need to adapt and not all of them have adapted. Balogun and Ekong have adapted and that’s why you see them perform well.
“Same goes for the ones who are born here, when they go to Europe, they are it will take them time to settle. Kanu and Okocha started here, but were got better when they settled well in Europe.
“So we need to be sensible when we are bringing players born in Europe. Because a player is playing for local club in Belgium is not enough to earn him a place in the national team,” Odegbami told brila.net.
