Transfer market: Why are Nigerian players missing?

The summer transfer window is on with clubs in Europe signing players for new season expected to kickoff next month. Most of the signings making headlines were players that made their mark at the just concluded World Cup in Brazil. Even those whose teams failed to make the mark still made headlines based on their quality. But of great concern is that none of the 23 players that represented Nigeria in Brazil is considered good by any club. It’s only Brown Ideye, who failed to make the World Cup team that was snapped by West Brom from Dynamo Kiev. Group Sports Editor, Peter Edema and Correspondent,  Augustine Akhilomen examines the trend..

Super Eagles players

With the new season few weeks to kick-off, European clubs have invaded the transfer market in search of players needed to fortify themselves for the upcoming 2014/15 season.
Expectedly, those who featured at the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Brazil have dominated the transfer headlines as top clubs in Europe have snapped them for a huge fee beyond imagination.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez, was signed by Real Madrid for £63m (80m Euros or $107.9m) after a sterling performance at the World Cup. He was the tournament top scorer with six goals with his volley against Uruguay voted the goal of the mundial.
Germany’s Toni Kroos also left Bayern Munich to Real Madrid for £24m after an impressive display.
Despite been crucified for biting Italian Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez still made a big money move from Liverpool to Barcelona in a deal worth £75m, while Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa ending at Chelsea. Alexis Sanchez  was snapped by Arsenal from Atletico. Mario Mandzukic got Atletico Madrid attention. Ander Herrera headed towards and Luke Shaw headed towards Man United. These players secured lucrative contracts due to their superlative  performance in Brazil.
While these players are making fortunes, none of the 23 players Nigeria paraded in Brazil have gotten a mention. At best what is associated with Nigerian players are rumours of interest.
In fact, Mikel Obi and Victor Moses were ignored by Chelsea which embarked on training tour without the duo of Nigerians. It is only Brown Ideye, who did not feature for Eagles in Brazil that moved from Dynamo Kiev to West Bromwich Albiom.
The lack of activity for Nigerian players in the transfer market is generating goose pimples, despite that it reached the knockout stage for the first time in 16 years.
Several reasons have been adduced for this, ranging from poor individual performance, to players not being good enough and therefore not worth buying. It is also alleged that the players have lost value. It is also been said that Nigerians players are underrated.
But FIFA and CAF technical committee member, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde would have none of the above as reason(s) why Nigerian players are conspicuously missing in the transfer market.
“It is a big problem,” he began on Thursday.
“The world is suspicious of the ages of Nigerian players. People are looking for players they can develop.
“No serious club will buy a player whose age cannot be easily verified. The clubs want players they can develop and build up,” he said.
Onigbinde then asked, “Are we developing our players in this country of ours? Do we have developmental programmes? The answers are no. And this is why we cheat with our age teams and the whole world is aware of this.
“We can’t deceive the whole for ever. This is why they don’t want to have anything to do with our players. The whole world knows this and this is why they are not interested in our players,” Onigbinde said with a tone of regret.
Confirming the problem of age cheat in the national team, he said, “When I took the Super Eagles to the World Cup in Japan in 2002, one of the senior players claimed that he was 36 years. But his younger brother celebrated his 40th birthday.”
FIFA accredited Players’ Agent, Chris Eseka reason why none of the 23 players that represented the country in Brazil are not sought after has nothing to do with the above.
In his own submission on Thursday, Eseka is of the view that the World Cup is a party where players go with the intention of selling themselves.
“But Nigerian players were not in Brazil to sell themselves,” he began, adding, “Most of the players did not up their games in Brazil.
“Its not that they are not talented, but they did not take their game to the next level. This is where the coach comes in. He is expected to design a play that will bring the best out of the players and the team.”
According to Eseka, it was only Osaze Odemwingies, Efe Ambrose that really play good football in Brazil.
“As far as am concerned, only Osaze played with personal intelligence. Efe Ambrose did a bit well. Juwon Oshaniwa was okay. A young man thrown into that mix, but was lost while defending, he was a bit confused and awful.
“We had no midfield in Brazil. Sunday Mba who use to attack from the midfield was not there. We had no one in the attack. Victor Moses game was confusing.
“The biggest flop in Brazil was Mikel Obi. If he cannot make the team’s training tour, tells us bad it is. Jose Mourinho has altered his game template, he has marred his game. Mikel has lost all the goal scoring sense, his incisive pass and vision are no longer there.”
Former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Kojo Williams was apt in his response to our enquiries about the absence of Nigerian players on the transfer market.
“What is happening on the transfer market is a true reflection of the state of football in Nigeria. The market forces will never lie.
“There are no developmental programmes, poor league structure, poor national teams structure.
“There are no quality players. The truth is just staring us in the face.
According to him, “When you start cheating at under age tournaments, when you lie, when you celebrate mediocrity, this is what happens. The truth can be dead for a while, but can’t be buried for life. It will come out one day and it has come out to stare us in the face. And this is what is happening to us now.
“I can tell  you the players being sought after by these clubs have what the clubs are looking for. These players being sought have gone through quality football academies, but what of your players? The Mikel Obi that all of you were hailing as star, can he measure up with Angel D Maria or Lionel Messi. All your under age players that played alongside Messi, D Maria, where are they today?