Dimeji Lawal Slams Super Eagles for Having “Too Many Overhyped Players” After Guinea-Bissau Loss

Former Nigeria international Dimeji Lawal says the Super Eagles have too many overhyped players, after the team's heavy 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.

Goals from Franculino Dju, Mama Balde and Alvaro Djalo gave Guinea-Bissau a comfortable win in Group L on matchday 2. They stay top with six points. Nigeria are second on three, while Madagascar and Tanzania have one point each.

Lawal believes many of the foreign-born players in the squad struggle with the physical side of African football. He made the point on BRILA Media, saying Nigeria chases anyone with a Nigerian name. "We have too many overhyped players and a country that goes after every foreign-born, once we see players with Nigerian name we run after them," Lawal said. "We are talking about African football which is quite different from European football, that’s one of the basic problems we’ve been having and will continue to have."

The 1989 FIFA Under-20 World Cup silver medallist with the Flying Eagles said the stars of the past learned their trade at home first. "In the days of Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, they had African football background before mixing it with European football. But what do we have now, we just around after players who have never set their legs on our soil to come and play African football, you think African football is easy?" he said.

Lawal also said there is no such thing as an easy opponent in football anymore. "For a very long time I knew there was nothing like push overs anymore and when you look at the results it shows if you don’t hold your own you will find it very difficult," he said.

The Super Eagles are next in action on November 11, when they host Tanzania in Uyo on matchday 3.