Chelle accused of bias against players in major African leagues

Nigeria senior national team coach Eric Chelle has been accused of not paying attention to Nigerian players playing in top African leagues, regardless of how well they play, reports OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Since taking over as coach of the Nigerian national team more than a year ago, the coach has only called up the goalkeeping duo of Stanley Nwabali, formerly of Chippa United in South Africa, and Amas Obasogie, of Singida in Tanzania.

The coach has not yet called up any outfield players from African leagues, and top football agent Michael Stanley says it is not fair because all African countries give opportunities to players based in Africa.

“I don’t think it’s fair to look for players only in Europe. We have Onuche Ogbelu doing very well in Tunisia with Esperance and Emmanuel Ogbole is seen as the best player in the Tunisian league at the moment,” he said.

“There is Sodiq Awujoola from Cleopatra in Egypt and also Etiosa Ighodaro from Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa. All of these players are from leagues that have players in the national team.

“For me there is a touch of bias in the way he is operating at the moment and his scouts have not been fair to him,” he concluded.