1st June, 2012
As the Super Eagles get set for Sunday, 3 June 2012 World Cup qualifier against Namibia at the U J Esuene Sports Stadium, Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, told P.M.Sports that he did not invite Mikiel Obi, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Joseph Yobo, Kalu Uche and other foreign-based players because he does not need them now.
Keshi said he has a pool of players from which to draw from both at home and abroad without having to depend on some big stars in the Eagles. “We have a pool of players both locally and internationally. We have 13 foreign-based players and ten local players and all are in good form to play and bring us victory,” said Keshi.
He noted that those in camp are good players and to “qualify them as the best does not arise because we have so many good players inside and outside the country. Let’s give these ones in camp the opportunity whether they are based at home or abroad, afterall I was once a home-based player and everyone started here at home.”
He said the trainings he had with the players has positioned them for the best and “I can assure you that the better side will win on Sunday though I am not God to tell you the score line,” he said.
He said the players have been instructed “to play our football and if they do that we are sure of victory, but in any case the better side would win.”
Keshi said that he cannot disclose the line up for the crucial match because he works in conjunction with other coaches and “jointly we shall work out the line up but I can assure you, it will meet Nigerians’ expectations.”
Vincent Enyeama, who is expected to man the post for Nigeria said the players are in top form and called on Nigerians to pray for them as the team would surely rule the day.
—Emma Una, Calabar