Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie has argued that footballers playing in Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to captain their national sides, citing William Troost-Ekong and Cristiano Ronaldo as examples.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Brila Media, Odemwingie said national team captains must compete in top-tier leagues to maintain the standards required of leadership roles.
“Any player who is not in a big league, like those in Saudi Arabia, should not be captain of the Super Eagles or any national team,” he stated.
🚨🗣️ 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄: Osaze Odemwingie says players based in Saudi Arabia should not captain their national teams, using Troost-Ekong and Cristiano Ronaldo as examples. 👀🔥
“Any player who is not in a big league, like those in Saudi Arabia, should not be captain of the Super… pic.twitter.com/N2sXiUv0t0
— Brila Media (@Brilamedia) September 3, 2026
Odemwingie pointed to Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr, saying the Portuguese star’s performances for his country had declined since leaving Europe.
He also questioned Troost-Ekong’s suitability as Super Eagles captain after the defender joined Saudi club Al-Kholood.
