Former Nigerian International, Coach Usman Yinka Salihu, has stated that the northern part of Nigeria harbours the best talented footballers but the attitude of the players is the reason they don’t flourish in their career.
Salihu made this known in response to a question on why players of northern extraction hardly feature prominently in the Super Eagles.
According to him, the players lack the right attitude that would take them to the pinnacle of their chosen career.
He also noted that part of the problems such players face is because they are hardly scouted by national team coaches and that most of them are easily contented with whatever they have achieved, rather than seek for greener pastures.
“In my opinion the main problem with northern players is their attitude. It is a fact that no matter the ability you have, without the right attitude that ability will amount to nothing.”
“They like to play without restrictions. Once you try to impose discipline on them, they tend not to perform well. Most are of them are more comfortable playing in the north where they can come to training anytime they want and when it is convenient for them.”
“However, there is no doubting the fact that the best talents in Nigerian football are in the north. Sometimes they are discovered and taken out but because their orientation is the same, they hardly flourish,” he said.
