Former Nigeria international Dimeji Lawal has criticised the Super Eagles following their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Nigeria suffered a heavy loss on matchday two of Group L, with Guinea-Bissau securing a convincing victory through goals from Franculino Dju, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló.
The result leaves Guinea-Bissau at the top of Group L with six points from two matches. The Super Eagles remain second with three points, while Madagascar and Tanzania have one point each.
Reacting to the result, Lawal argued that Nigeria currently has too many players whose abilities have been exaggerated.
“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 on BRILA Media.
The former Flying Eagles star also questioned whether some foreign-born players in the Super Eagles are adequately prepared for the physical demands and tactical characteristics of African football.
“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,” he added.
Lawal, who was part of the Nigeria team that won the silver medal at the 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup, compared the current generation with former Super Eagles stars such as Austin Okocha and Daniel Amokachi.
According to him, those players developed through African football before gaining experience in Europe, giving them a stronger understanding of the demands of the continent’s game.
“In the days of Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, they had African football background before mixing it with European football,” Lawal said.
He further questioned the approach of recruiting players who have had limited exposure to Nigerian or African football.
“What do we have now? We just run after players who have never set their legs on our soil to come and play African football. You think African football is easy?” he asked.
Lawal also warned against underestimating teams considered less prominent in African football, stressing that there are no longer guaranteed easy opponents in international competition.
“For a very long time I knew there was nothing like pushovers 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 will have an opportunity to respond to the defeat when they return to action in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers on November 11, when they are scheduled to host Tanzania in Uyo on matchday three.