AFCON: Super Eagles may surprise fans, says Ipaye

Super Eagles players pose for a team photo before their AFCON qualifier against Guinea-Bissau. Photo: The NFF.

Ex-international Wasiu Ipaye said on Thursday that despite doubts about the list of invited players for the 2023 Côte d’Ivoire Africa Nation’s Cup (AFCON), the Super Eagles may surprise fans by performing well at the tournament.

Ipaye, a former defensive midfielder, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The former First Bank Football Club player said the exclusion of home-based players showed that the handlers of the team did not rate the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) highly.

“With few days to go, I want to be positive. The boys need the encouragement. In spite of the not so impressive list of selected players, I hope we’d all be surprised in a good way.

“Personally, I feel the exclusion of home-based players may be a de-service. Some of the foreign-based players are not even playing in the first-division leagues. We place so much emphasis on foreign based players.

“Look at Egypt, Morocco and Algeria, majority of their players are home-based. It’s the way you make your bed that you lie on it. I know the coach has the final say.

“Look at what Clement Westerhof was able to do with the team. He made it a point of duty to watch our domestic league matches and selected the best talents.

“Dismissing our home-based players is detrimental to the development of football in Nigeria,” he said.

On the absence of the Leicester City duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, Ipaye, a member of the 1990 AFCON squad, said their absence would encourage other players to toughen up and deliver.

“I think Kelechi played in some of the friendly matches but I can’t say same for Ndidi. The coach knows what