Keshi, NFF Clash Over Euro Stars

The chances of Nigeria’s Super Eagles making it to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations is under threat going by the news emanating from the camp of the team in Abuja.

Soccer loving Nigerians were expecting the Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi to release the list of players that he will parade in the first leg of the last round of the qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia in Monrovia on 8 September. But our reporters gathered that the list will be delay due to the current clash of interest between Keshi and members of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

It was gathered that the NFF wants the impose some Europe-based players on Keshi, but the coach believes such players won’t be good enough for the qualifier, a situation that has brought the final selection of the players to a deadlock in Abuja yesterday.

The former coach of Mali stood his ground telling the NFF officials to their faces that he would not be coerced by the NFF to invite some players to the national team, insisting that his invitation of players is based on their form and commitment to Nigeria.

Keshi noted that since the bulk of the work stops on his table, he should be independent in the choice of who plays in his team because he bears the burden if the team fail in their outing.

According to him, “I’m contented working with the players I have now because they are committed and are always willing to play for the country. I won’t allow anybody to tell me what to do. Nigerians are watching to see how far I will go with the team. I will only call up those Nigerian players who can fit into my plans not the ones being enforced on me.”

Keshi also warned that no Nigerian player is bigger than the country, hence his determination not only to enforce discipline in the Eagles, but ensure that all Nigerian players are given equal chances to wear the colours of the national team.

—Taiwo Adelu  &  Adebobola Alawode