The recent decision of the senior Nigeria international trio of Chidozie Awaziem, Alhassan Yusuf and William Troost-Ekong to leave mainstream Europe for teams in the USA and the Gulf region hasn’t gone down well with a senior player in the Super Eagles.
Ekong who was voted the most valuable player (MVP) at the last AFCON is close to finalizing his transfer to newly promoted Saudi Arabia side Al Khalood, while the duo of Yusuf and Awaziem have both sealed moves to MLS side New England Revolution and Cincinnati FC.
All three players were part of the Super Eagles squad to the last Africa Cup of Nations where the team finished second after losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final. They were also part of the squad for the recent world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.
Their move away from Europe, which was financially motivated has drawn knocks with a senior player in the team saying it could have cost them their spot if former coach of the team Gernot Rohr was still the man at the helm as coach.
” Under Rohr he keeps telling us to move to teams playing in top leagues or major European tournaments because it will aid our improvement and also the team by extension. The quality of opposition you face weekly determines your growth” he said on the condition that he won’t be named to preserve relationships.
” If he was still in charge there is no way Ekong, Yusuf and Awaziem will still be in the team following their move away from Europe. I am not saying playing outside Europe is bad but with Rohr it was the first criteria for you to be in the team”, he rounded up saying.
