Pitso Mosimane, the former coach of Bafana Bafana, recently discussed why European clubs favor signing Nigerian players over South Africans, according to Umpire Sports.
Mosimane, one of Africa’s most successful coaches, commented on this after a challenging season for Burnley’s Lyle Foster, who made only 26 appearances in the Premier League at the age of 23.
Historically, South African players, like those from the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, made significant contributions in England. However, in recent years, top players like Percy Tau have struggled to replicate that success, causing European clubs to hesitate in signing South Africans.
Conversely, Nigerian players are thriving in Europe. Many Super Eagles stars are playing in top leagues, with Victor Osimhen at Napoli, Ademola Lookman at Atalanta, and Victor Boniface at Bayer Leverkusen leading the way.
In the interview, Mosimane emphasized the need for South African players to meet European clubs’ specific demands. He cited John Barnes, who noted that while South Africa has talented players, they often don’t fit the profile needed for the English Premier League, unlike players from West Africa.
“It’s concerning for me,” Mosimane said. “I was hopeful for Lyle Foster, but look what happened—Burnley has been relegated. I also hoped for Percy in the Premier League, like how Steven Pienaar, Benni McCarthy, and Shaun Bartlett represented us, but now we have no one, and it’s disappointing.”
He added, “We need the right players. John Barnes mentioned that we have talent, but not the right type for the Premier League, while West Africa has players suited for that level.”
Mosimane highlighted that Nigerian players meet market demands, contributing to their success at clubs like AC Milan and Napoli.
“When Nigeria plays South Africa, you notice their style and effectiveness. They have players at AC Milan and Napoli for a reason. It’s about having the right players for the right market. We excel in kasi flavor football, but for the World Cup, we need players like Evidence Makgopa.”
Despite interest from European clubs in players like Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau, no transfers have been finalized.
Meanwhile, Nigerian forwards such as Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman continue to attract interest from major European clubs, including Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Manchester United
