Former Nigeria international Yakubu Aiyegbeni has expressed concern over the makeup of the current Super Eagles squad, saying the team has an overabundance of defensive midfielders.
Aiyegbeni, fondly known as “Yak,” believes this imbalance is a major reason the three-time African champions struggle to control and dominate games, pointing to a shortage of creativity in midfield.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle recently named a 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Among the eight midfielders selected, many are recognised more for their defensive work rate than their ability to create chances.
Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Aiyegbeni was direct in his assessment, highlighting the absence of forward-thinking passing in the team.
“We need a proper midfielder who can pass the ball because we have too many defensive midfielders. We have Ndidi and Onyeka; they mostly pass the ball sideways. We were even lucky Ndidi played one forward pass to Ejuke against Gabon,” he said.
He also compared the current squad to past Super Eagles teams, noting the lack of a commanding playmaker in midfield.
“I don’t want to go back to our days, but we had someone like Oliseh who could pass the ball and switch play,” Aiyegbeni added.
“We need a creative midfielder who can pass the ball very well. That’s the most important thing, and we don’t have it. That’s why we don’t dominate matches.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are rounding off their preparations at a training camp in Cairo, Egypt, where 24 players have so far reported.
Nigeria will take on Egypt in a high-profile international friendly today (Tuesday, December 16). The match is expected to serve as an important test for both teams, although reports from Egypt suggest Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah may be rested or feature briefly after arriving in camp shortly before kick-off.
The Super Eagles will begin their AFCON 2025 campaign in Group C against Tanzania on December 23.
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