By Amaechi Agbo

Former Super Eagles winger, Ejike Uzoenyi has stated that the team has the potential to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Ivory Coast but expressed sadness that home-based players were not part of the squad.

Speaking with Best Choice Sports in an exclusive interview in Enugu, the 2013 AFCON winner said the exclusion of players from the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL is an aberration that should be corrected.

“Of course this is football anything can happen, they can win it but you know, most of us are not really happy. But we still have to wish them luck, because this is our team and our country, it is the platform that helped most of us. We don’t have any option than to support them regardless of who’s there. We’re not really happy regarding the omission of the home-based players.

The former Rangers International FC forward said that former players who joined the team from the domestic league should speak up to put a stop to the disenchantment.

He queried why the league should not provide players for the Super Eagles adding that if such is the case, the league should be shout down because it is not serving it’s purpose.

“If we that benefited from the home-based didn’t speak up, then this thing will continue going on, there won’t be a competition in the group because it is now one sided.

“I’m just stating that they should do what is right, because if the league cannot produce one or two players in the system, then why’s the league going on? That means that people who are managing the league are not doing anything, they should look into the league. The coach should visit the league scene and know exactly what’s going on there and invite players.

“Let them come and try, how can you develop a player when you keep them here all through? They need to go to the camp, in camping they get exposure, you could see one or two clubs to sign you. Let them invite like six or seven, let them go to the camp and get exposed. They can’t be here and get the exposure they need, this is top level football, somebody gave us that chance and we used it, and today we’re happy, our family is happy, our friends are happy.

“They should win, we’ll be praying for them. Anybody that is being invited, it’s their time, it’s a chance, so we’ll support them. Our advice is going forward, they should look into our home players.”

Uzoenyi was among the six home-based players selected by late Coach Stephen Keshi in his title-winning squad in AFCON 2023 held South Africa