9th October, 2014
The Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, has explained his reasons for dropping Spanish based striker, Ike UChe from his squad to face Sudan this weekend.
Keshi said this in Abuja during an interactive session with the media ahead of the team’s qualifying match against Sudan for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“I did the list and Ike Uche’s name was among the 24-man list and he didn’t know about it.
“Four days later, he (Uche) called me and I was surprised to hear his voice. We spoke like brothers.
“The next time, my secretary Dayo Enebi, asked the players if they have South African visa so that he can take their passports and get them visas.
“He (Enebi) asked Uche about his own visa and he refused to submit his passport.
“He said that he needed somebody to explain something he heard about himself being a bad person,” Keshi said.
The coach said that Uche refused to submit his passport for visa processing until explanations were given to his questions.
Keshi noted that the player’s refusal to submit his passport led to his exclusion from the list of invited players.
“I said his name should be removed; I am not going to beg Uche and I am not going to ask Daniel Amokachi to beg him.
“We all played for this country for over 20 years and nobody begged us to play; we were begging to play for the country then.
“So, please let this be the end of the question about Uche, the players that are willing to play for the country should be encouraged to do so.
“Why must it be Ike Uche all the time? Obafemi Martins is also excluded but he is not saying anything.
“We have other players that are not here, why do you people want to tear my team apart?” Keshi quizzed.