Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, says he will not miss any player who did not make the team’s provisional list for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Keshi disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, in reaction to the barrage of criticisms which have trailed his list of 32 invited players.
The list was for the final phase of camping in Faro, Portugal for the competition, scheduled to kick off on Jan. 19 in South Africa.
According to Keshi, the omission of the likes of Osaze Odemwingie and Taye Taiwo was not intentional, but for the good of the country.
“We don’t need Osaze right now; that is all. He is not a bad player and there is nothing personal about it.
“It is just that at this point in time, there are some players that were not called and we don’t have anything against them. We also did not invite Obafemi Martins, why are Nigerians not talking about him?
“These players are not the only Nigerians playing; this is what we want for now. All we want for now from Nigerians is to support the players that are there in prayers,” Keshi said.
The former Togo and Mali coach added that Martins was not in the list because he did not live up to expectation when he was given the opportunity to prove his worth in the new Eagles squad.
Keshi pointed out that he was more comfortable dealing with the players he was familiar with.
“Martins is a good player and has done so well for this country. However, I have some other players I have used before and I think I have confidence in them, not that I don’t have confidence in Martins, but his time will come.
“He is still a young man and is still playing,” Keshi said.
The Chairman, Nigeria Football Association, Aminu Maigari, told NAN that Keshi’s decision on the list was final.
Maigari said that the present board of the association had vowed not to meddle with Super Eagles affairs.
“Actually the duty of the NFA board is to regulate, we don’t impose players on the coaches. But I was able to attend part of the last segment of the technical committee meeting with the coaches themselves.
“At the meeting, I asked why Osaze was not invited and the committee said it had also asked similar question, but the coach gave his reasons and they were convinced.
“I was satisfied too, because I feel it is not my right to come and say the coach must bring back a particular player,” Maigari said.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles will depart Nigeria for Faro, Portugal on December 27 for the final phase of camping for the competition. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This man don smook weed oo ,wetin osaze do again??
ReplyDeleteKeshi wil fail witout osaze
ReplyDelete