6th February, 2013
Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles head coach, on Tuesday admitted that he had been having headache selecting players at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“The problem reached a boiling point with Fegor Ogude back from match suspension, Keshi said at a news conference in Durban, South Africa.
A statement by Ben Alaiya, the Super Eagles’ media officer, quoted Keshi as saying that the return of Ogude from suspension means that he had to battle Ogenyi Onazi, for the midfield role.
Onazi, the Lazio FC of Italy midfielder, put up a yeoman’s performance in the quarter final duel against Cote d’ Ivoire.
“It’s been tough and I always have this headache of selection, but with Fegor back, it’s going to be tough picking who to start against Mali; by Wednesday we shall see who starts,’’ Keshi said.
The “Big Boss’’ as Keshi is fondly called, also took a swipe at “mediocre’’ foreign coaches that are often hired by football federations in Africa.
He reiterated his call for a stop to be put to it.
“If we hire a quality coach from Europe that we can learn something from, I won’t have issues with that.
“But when they come from the backyard and parade themselves as expatriate coaches when they don’t know what ex-internationals like us know then I am against it,” Keshi was quoted as saying.
Eagles’ captain Joseph Yobo said at the conference that he was happy renewing the rivalry between himself and Mali captain, Seydou Keita.
Yobo said the rivalry dated back to the years when both of them featured for their countries at the U-20 level.
“I am happy that after several years, both of us are still playing active football and are the captains of our national teams,’’ he said.