'We want immediate results' - Eguavoen explains why Nigeria is focusing on players born abroad

Nigeria's interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has explained why several national teams coaches are focusing now on players born abroad to represent the Super Eagles rather than homegrown players.

Using the latest Super Eagles squad for the back-to-back matches against Ghana as a yardstick, Eguavoen has picked eight players born abroad on a 25-man roster, namely Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam), Semi Ajayi (West Brom), William Troost-Ekong (Watford), Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey (all Rangers), Ola Aina (Torino) and Ademola Lookman (Leicester City).

Kevin Akpoguma, Cyriel Dessers, Josh Maja, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze were previously invited to the Super Eagles.

It has been argued that it is easier for players born abroad to feature for Nigeria but more difficult for homegrown players unlike in the past when dual-nationals beg to play for the Super Eagles.

Eguavoen underlined that the coaches are under pressure to deliver immediate results hence Nigerian Professional Football League players are often snubbed.

"It is very simple because we want immediate results. Flying Eagles then we used to camp for a long time, Green Eagles as well long time. Today if you put these players in the NPFL in a game and you don't win you are gone," Eguavoen said to Elegbete TV Sports.

"When was the last time we got to the finals of the CAF Champions League or Confederation Cup, it has been long.

"When Enyimba dominated Africa we had the likes of Nwaneri and co. drafted to the team. Nwaneri played for me as well. Yaro Yaro was in Enyimba, was also in Kano Pillars, played.

"Today we can't win CAF Champions League because anytime you find one good player, a very good one or two seasons he's gone.

"If we could match the salaries of the South African League, I think Ndah would still be here but he's gone.

"Because we want immediate results there is no patience, you have to give a coach minimum of two or three years to put the best and start winning trophies, it's not something within six months or one year because we want immediate results.

"Today you want to opt for a player playing in England, Bulgaria or the Netherlands."

Eguavoen is of the opinion that Stephen Keshi was able to name several home-based players in his 2013 AFCON-winning squad because they were in camp before the tournament in South Africa.

"Late Keshi had few of them that went to the Africa Cup of Nations and then the World Cup, Keshi's team was always in camp for about three months playing friendly games.

"How many times have our home based played friendly games, only once we met in USA against Mexico.

"And then they came back people started saying these ones cannot play for Nigeria, and then back to their clubs nothing happened. "