Former Nigeria U-23 assistant coach Fatai Amoo has urged players invited by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers to make the most of the opportunity and deliver their best performances.

Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Amoo described the decision to source players from the domestic league as a step in the right direction, recalling that a similar approach was adopted in the build-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

The former coach, however, stressed the need for adequate support and proper preparation, insisting that securing qualification should remain the team's primary objective.

“It is a good opportunity for the home-based players. I can remember vividly the Olympic team that I worked with coach Samson Siasia. We started with the home-based players. They formed the majority of the players and as we were moving up, we started inviting one or two foreign players before we eventually qualified and brought in some professional players to strengthen the team,” Amoo said.

He further expressed support for giving locally based footballers opportunities at the national team level, noting that such exposure could open doors to higher levels of the game.

“I am on the side of giving the home-based players the opportunity. From there, a lot of them can move to the Super Eagles. It will also give them the opportunity to move to clubs outside Nigeria,” he added.

Chelle has invited 31 players to prosecute Nigeria’s U-23 AFCON qualifying campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Amoo’s comments highlight the importance of providing domestic league players with opportunities to represent the country while ensuring the team receives the necessary backing to achieve its qualification target.