Nigeria’s Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, has shed light on the decision to include Papa Daniel Mustapha in the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Eguavoen defended the midfielder’s selection, revealing that he, along with Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and other NPFL coaches, closely monitored Daniel before making the call. The former Super Eagles boss has been a strong advocate for including homegrown talent in the national team, urging coaches to give NPFL players opportunities on the international stage.
For the upcoming qualifiers, Chelle has named two players from the Nigerian domestic league in his squad—Papa Daniel and goalkeeper Kayode Bankole—marking a significant step towards integrating local talents into the Super Eagles setup.
Eguavoen admitted that he initially planned to hand a debut to Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins during last year’s AFCON qualifier against Rwanda but was unable to do so as Nigeria was trailing. Speaking to Home Turf, he expressed his frustration over not being able to introduce the NPFL players in that match.
“I had two players from the NPFL in the team for the last two games, but unfortunately, they didn’t get a chance to play. Against Rwanda, my plan was to bring them in towards the end, but things didn’t go as expected,” he said.
The veteran football administrator also recounted his visit to Remo Stars, where he first saw Papa Daniel in action.
“I was in Remo with Eric Chelle to watch the CHAN Eagles train. That was the first time I saw Papa Daniel play. I had previously asked the Bendel Insurance coach to keep an eye on players and give me recommendations. He mentioned two names, and Papa Daniel was one of them,” Eguavoen revealed.
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Further endorsements came from the coaches of Remo Stars and Rangers, who were Eguavoen’s assistants at the time.
“When I spoke with the Remo Stars and Rangers coaches, they also mentioned Papa Daniel. I hadn’t seen him play before, but I trusted their judgment. Then, when I finally watched him train in Remo, I was convinced. Chelle was there too, and he was equally impressed. That’s why he made sure Daniel and Rangers center-back Ifeanyi Onyebuchi were part of the squad,” he explained.
Daniel is now in contention for a midfield role against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, competing with established stars like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Joe Aribo, as well as promising youngsters Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf.
As Nigeria gears up for the crucial qualifiers, Eguavoen remains committed to ensuring NPFL players get the recognition they deserve, proving that talent within the domestic league can thrive on the international stage.
