Keshi Considers Foreign-Based Players

Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that Nigerian foreign-based players will be given a last-minute opportunity to fight for shirts as Nigeria get set to face the Lone Star of Liberia in the final round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September.

The former Eagles’ skipper hinted that his plan is to extend invitation to some foreign-based players that have not been tested since he took over the coaching job of the Eagles.

“The next step that we will take is to extend invitation to foreign-based players that have not been invited at all. There is a need to also test these players if any of them can make the team before we play Liberia in September,” said Keshi.

He said: “Some of these players are good and are eager to play for Nigeria if they are given the opportunity. We have decided to invite them and give them the opportunity to fight for shirts in the team.”

However, Keshi said the coaching crew would soon stop the invitation of new players to the team, adding that there is a need to carry out an assessment of the players that have been invited to the team.

“We will soon stop inviting new players to the team because time is not on our side. We have no choice than to work with the players that we have so that we can start preparations for the Liberia match on time,” said Keshi.

—Bimbo Ajayi