By Amaechi Agbo

Former Super Eagles striker, Peter Ijeh has described the late invitation of Belgium-based striker, Paul Onuachu to the Super Eagles squad ahead of the March 27 and 30 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho respectively as “Psychologically disheartening”

The former Julius Berger striker and 2000 Nigeria Premier League highest goal scorer lamented that the manner in which Onuachu who have scored 27 league goals for his Belgian club Genk was demoralising.

“The late invitation of Paul Onuachu first as a standby and now invited because another player opted out is so disheartening psychologically.

“I wish he performs but psychologically it is demoralizing to be called up in the format with duress, pressure and not of VALUE and consistency,” the 2000 Nigeria Premier League, NPL, highest goal scorer said on Facebook

Mr Ijeh who currently handles a division 2 club in Sweden, Vårgårda IK questioned the rationale behind players invitation to the national team without recourse to club performance.

“If u (you) watch the patterns written so far in the Eagles, it looks like the team is already decided without following players club side consistencies.

“Though I respect all coaches and their philosophies. But u (you) don’t run a national team with same philosophy of club side.

“The question now is not if he can perform. The main question is if he can get supplies.

“As it is today in Europe today. he is no1 finisher with 27 goals. So it is the job of the technical crew to find that missing link or be regarded as incompetent.”

Mr Ijeh who made five appearances for the Super Eagles without a goal accused the Nigeria Football Federation and teams handlers of devalue the worth of Nigerian players.

“If he is an European, they would celebrate him every day and build around him to contest for European player of the year. But when Nigeria devalue such, I wonder where the next generation of players will be.”