Keshi Leads Home Boys Against Niger

After almost a month without engaging in a national assignment with the senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles, coach of the team, Stephen Keshi will today file-out a team made up of virtually locally based players in a friendly match against the Menas of Niger in Niamey.

Today’s match is scheduled as a preparatory match for the crucial final round of matches for the 2013 African Nations Cup qualifer against Liberia billed for 9 September, 2012 in Monrovia.

While calling up players for today’s encounter some weeks ago, the ‘Big Boss’ as Keshi is fondly called had invited 26 home based players for training at the FIFA goal project instead of the training pitch at the Abuja National stadium. The coach had refused to use the Abuja training pitch, saying that the pitch has degenerated in quality.

The coaching crew led by coach Stephen Keshi and the invited players that include: Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves), Daniel Akpeyi (HeartlandFC), Moses Ocheje (Sunshine Stars)

Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Papa Idris (KanoPillars), Juwon Oshaniwa (Sharks FC), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars), Ezekiel Henry (Rising Stars), Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC),Umar Zango (Kano Pillars), Osuchukwu Ogonna (Enugu Rangers), Kwambe Solomon (Sunshine Stars), and the Midfielders/Forwards are:

Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Sunday Mba (Warri Wolves), Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars), Izu Azuka (Sunshine Stars),Uche Kalu (Enyimba FC), Henry Uche (Enyimba FC), Obinna Nwachukwu(Heartland FC), Christian Ofili (ABS FC), Solomon Jabason (AkwaUnited), Kabiru Umar (Heartland FC), Chibuzor Onyekwelu (FAME FC),Sanusi Sani (Gombe United), Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes), Philip Asuquo(3SC), left for Niger on Sunday 12 August, to acclamitise in the neighbouring nation ahead of the match.

From the obvious, Keshi is confident to confront the Nigeriens with virtually home-based players, after he started five of them in the victory in our last match against Rwanda last month.

“I’m ready to face any African opposition with the crop of local players we have been testing in series of matches since I got the job, and I don’t fear any team,” he said after their victory against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, last month.

According to Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Vice-President, Mike Umeh today’s match is to boost the players’ confidence if they win and also infuse fear into Nigeria’s next opponents, Liberia.

“It’s important for us to go into the Liberian match with a victorious mind set for this reason, we will approach our match against Niger later today with all seriousness.

The outcome of the match will infuse fear in the Liberians and also serves a morale booster for our players as they get set for the crucial match on 15 September in Monrovia, Umeh said while assessing the chances of the local league players against Niger.

Since the beginning of 2012, the Super Eagles have played eight matches out of which they’ve won three, drawn three and lost two, which is on the average side.

—Jordan  Olanipekun