Foreign-based players look down on home-based players - Two-time NPFL Golden boot winner

Former NPFL highest goalscorer Mfon Udoh has revealed that foreign-based players tend to snub home-based players in the national team because of their status, Soccernet reports.

Nigeria is blessed with many footballing talents abroad, and most of them usually form the crux of the national team. Occasionally, home-based players are called up to the squad, but they end up as peripheral figures.

The Super Eagles camp is usually a lively place because, to some of the players, it is their second home or an opportunity to meet close friends and acquaintances.

Former Enyimba striker Mfon Udoh has three caps for Nigeria, but surprisingly, he has revealed that the national camp is not as cozy and homely as it looks.

Udoh says that most home-based players are often isolated in camp because their foreign-based counterparts look down on them.

“When most foreign players see local players like us, they tend to look down on us,” Udoh said on the Abu Azeez podcast.

“I’ve been in the Super Eagles before some of them, but because they have consistently gotten call-ups, they feel like they own the place.

“Being in the Nigerian league and getting a national team call-up is very difficult. All those things make them look down on us. And the fact that we don’t have money adds to it.

“Some home-based players earn 500,000 to 600,000 compared to the foreign players who earn up to 30 million.

“Because of this disparity, some of them feel we will beg them for money. So they tend to distance themselves from us.”

Since Jose Peseiro took over as Super Eagles coach, he has shown some level of support for the NPFL. However, he hardly fixes them in his team sheets.

The Super Eagles have struggled in the goalkeeping department for years, but none of the NPFL goalies have been given an opportunity to prove their mettle.