Keshi snubs Mikel, invites Uche, 10 Others For Liberia

Stephen_Keshi

Stephen Keshi.


Tunde Oyedele

Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi stood his ground not to condone indiscipline in the team, as he did not include Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi and Osaze Odemwingie of West Brom in the final list of 11 Europe-based players invited for the must win Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia on 8 September.

The Eagles coach, who is at the Abuja camp of the Eagles with the home-based players, invited Ikechukwu Uche of Villarreal FC of Spain, Emmanuel Emenike of Spartak Moscow of Russia, Brown Ideye of Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine and skipper Joseph Yobo who plays in Turkey for the tie.

While defending the list during a hot session with the NFF Technical Sub-Committee on Friday in Abuja, Keshi told the Nigeria Football Federation, that
Mikel and Osaze were left out because they are not disciplined.

The exclusion of both players from the Eagles’ list originated the current face off between the coach and his employers, but

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Keshi successfully defended his action at a meeting, which dragged till late Friday in Abuja.

However, erstwhile number one goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama made a return to the team as Keshi included him in the list of foreign-based stars approved by the NFF Technical Sub-Committee. The Euro-based legions will team up with the home-based players who played a goalless draw with the Menas of Niger Republic in an international friendly match in Niamey last week.

The Chairman of the NFF Technical Sub-Committee, Barrister Chris Green, said: “Coach Keshi gave his reasons for inviting each of the players and we all succumbed to him that these players are in good form and will do the job for Nigeria against Liberia.”

Invited Foreign_based stars:
Goalkeeper: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)
Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Ashdod FC,
Israel); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal)
Midfielders and Strikers: Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Obiora
Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic,
England, now heading for Chelsea); Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Ikechukwu Uche
(Villarreal, Spain); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown
Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine)

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