The poor finishing of the Super Eagles
against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup on Sunday has turned the
Sports Ministry and the Nigeria Football Federation officials against
Stephen Keshi.
The PUNCH learnt on authority
that the officials are specifically curious about Keshi’s interest in
certain players whom they say he has continued to take to tournaments
even when it is obvious their current form suggest they are not good
enough for that level of competition.
An official of the Ministry of Sports
who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Monday said the
Ministry and the NFF will no longer close their eyes to what their
investigations have linked to “very personal” plans of the Nigeria
coach.
The official said, “When Keshi came on
board the general agreement was to build a team afresh which was the
right thing to do having missed one African Nations Cup, but we have
passed through long enough period and by every reason should have
reached a much higher level than we are now.
“We are still experimenting for only
one reason and that is purely because of what the coach is doing. Keshi
appears to be encouraging certain players for purely personal reasons.
Take the Confederations Cup as a typical example and you will
understand that many of those listed in the team had no business being
there.
You cannot say you are exposing players to the detriment of the
country; players that have not even reached the level of African
Nations Cup were instead thrown in to play against world champions
Spain.
“We are no longer fooled on this matter
and we have to take more interest in the players that represent
Nigeria. This is a national team and not a private team. He has to get
the Nigerians we know are in better state to feature for Eagles rather
feature players nobody knows the clubs they are playing for.”
But even as those in Abuja fume over
Keshi’s selections, the former Nigeria captain has no regret over his
choice of players to the competition ongoing in Brazil. On Monday,
Keshi said via his Twitter handle, that his team was still in the building stage.
“It’s a learning process for us, we
just have to continue what we started last night and build,” he said of
the game against Spain on Sunday. Eagles were beaten 3-0 to crash out
of the competition.
(PUNCH)
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
If they interfere it will be a set back to the old days
ReplyDeleteWhen only international players were used, we could not win nations cup. If Nigeria has beaten Spain, NFF would take d credit. NFF should allow coach Keshi to work and stop this arrogant know it all nd win it all attitude.
ReplyDeleteAll these fools at the glass house should stop playing politics with football and allow keshi
ReplyDeleteKeshi got it wrong this time around! And to be sincere with ourselves, our lifting the African Cup of Nations was out of luck and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteI don't not believe you and same is the position of most Nigerians.The nations cup was a deserved feather and I sincerely think that the politicians in the glass house should keep out of players selection.
DeleteKeshi and his team Nigeria tried, atleast to get a winning in the tournament is something, but for the team to be more challenging, I think that we need a good technical adviser in ways of selecting players for super Eagles.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIDEYE HAS FEATURED FOR NIGERIA IN 3 WORLD CUP AND IN NATIONS CUP AS TOP SCORER.HE CANT BOAST OF 2GOALS IN ALL.HE WONT EVEN GET A SHIRT IN EYIMBA.WHY NOT IKE CHUKWU AND MARTINS.
ReplyDeleteNigerians When Shall You Become Wise ???????????????
ReplyDeleteNFF call for foreign coach is not for our interest, the executive members of Nff always have their shear from foreign coaches. They have been looking for means of removing keshi even before Nations cup.
If you love football do everything to see that Keshi is given independent control of our National team.Why are we So inpatient ???????? From the look of the tournament our best players are having Injury, NFF OUR THE ENEMIES OF NIGERIAN FOOTBALL BE WISE.
Yes they lost to spain but did anyone see how well they played spain especially in the first half. the game would have easily been a draw if some of their chances were converted. NFF should leave Keshi to do his job. It takes time to build a formidable team, coaching is not magic! mcheeeeww
ReplyDeleteHw many yrs will it take him to build a team thats not even an excuss he sld look for a good striker after emenike others are rubish
ReplyDelete