Keshi Unruffled Over Eagles’ Drop

Despite dropping three spots again in the FIFA World ranking released in Zurich on Wednesday, Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, says he is unruffled.

The Super Eagles were ranked 60 but dropped by three spots in the May 2012 Ranking released by FIFA yesterday, but Keshi is of the view that the Ranking will not in anyway affect the performance of his team.

Speaking early today on Brilafm Abuja, the former coach of the Hawks of Togo opined that his concern at the moment is to build a new team and not to worry over FIFA Ranking.

“I’m not bothered about the current FIFA Ranking because it is not my priority at the moment. All I care about is how to build a strong team that can do the country proud on the continent and in world stage,” said Keshi.

Meanwhile, former coach of the team, Adegboye Onigbinde, has warned Keshi not to let the dichotomy of home-based and foreign-based players create division in the team.

The FIFA and CAF instructor made this disclosure this morning while commenting on the preparation of the home-based team in Abuja ahead of the international friendly match against Peru, scheduled for 23 May, 2012, in Peru.

Onigbinde said: “I don’t believe in the so-called home- based and foreign-based tag on our players. Any player invited to play for a Nigerian team should be given equal respect and opportunity like any other player, whether such player plays for a club in my home town in Modakeke or any other part of the world.

“Being addressed as home- based or foreign-based player could cause a division in the team, and it could result in a situation, where some players may decide not to pass the ball to a colleague in a better position just because they would rather want to pass to a player in their rank.”

—Bimbo Ajayi