One of the earliest arrival in the camp of the Super Eagles for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games is newly invited midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha who plays for Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Niger Tornadoes, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
He is among the six players in the team’s camp in Kigali ahead of Friday’s game against Rwanda with Victor Osimhen, Kayode Bankole, Bruno Onyemaechi, Tolu Arokodare and Amas Obasogie completing the number.
Among the outfield players in camp Papa is the only one who hasn’t been involved lately forcing many to question his inclusion in the team with some suggestions saying he is a project of someone in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Technical director of the football house Austine Eguavoen denied that he was forced on new coach Eric Chelle saying the coach saw him at the CHAN Eagles camp in Ikenne, before deciding to include him in the list for the games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively.
However Since playing for Niger Tornadoes against Plateau United on the 9th of February, he has missed six consecutive games against Insurance, Heartland, Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Enyimba, Rivers United and Katsina United over the weekend.
So the big question is if watching a player during a training session is enough to earn him a spot in the senior national team of a country that is trying to breathe life into what has been a very poor campaign, where they are currently without a win in four games.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman