‘Nigerian Players Can Win African Best’

Joseph Yobo insists that the Super Eagles have players with the talent to be in contention for CAF’s African Player of the Year prize.

Nigerian players suffered another blackout as CAF released its nominees for this year’s awards.

Not even Osaze Odemwingie, who finished as the top African goal scorer in the English Premier League with his 15 goals last season, got into the list which saw QPR’s Adel Taraabt nominated.

“I believe we have the talent to be nominated for the award, but we didn’t qualify for the Nations Cup so that has affected us,” Yobo said.

And the Super Eagles captain may have a point. Ideye, like Odemwingie, scored 15 goals for Sochuax before moving to Dinamo Kyiv.

Emmanuel Emenike scored 14 goals for Karabukspor before his move to Fenerbahce and then to Russia.

Yobo says the Eagles will have to work to regain respect.

“We have to take it one game at a time now, whether it’s a friendly, or a competitive match.

“Our goal should be to start to get wins, get our confidence back and then we’ll see what happens.

“We have a coach who is a legend and very well respected, and I believe we can start to try to build the confidence of Nigerians back in us.”

CAF’s 10-man shortlist also has the likes of current holder Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Lille’s Moussa Sow, who hit 25 goals last season.

The shortlist will be reduced to five by November 20 and a final three by the time the ceremony is held in Accra on December 22.

The initial shortlist was drawn up by the technical, media and football committees of CAF, but the winner will be determined from the shortlist by the coaches and technical directors of affiliated national associations of CAF.