Super Eagles: I Will Not Beg Anybody To Play – Keshi

The Super Eagles head coach, Steven Keshi, has said that he would
not ‘prostrate’ for any player to play for the senior national team.

Keshi made the declaration at the team’s media parley in
Abuja ahead of its friendly game against the Menas of Niger on Wednesday.

“No coach ever begged me to play for the Eagles and as a
coach; I will not beg any player to play for Nigeria.

“We have many players in Nigeria and as such we have to know
who is ready to come in and play,’’ he said.

He said that he chose the Niger friendly not necessarily
because of the outcome but because of its relevance to the country.

The friendly, he said, was to prepare the Super Eagles for
the Nations Cup qualifier against the Lone Stars of Liberia on September 8.

“I have played the Nigerien when I was with the Togo and
Mali national teams. They play similar football with Liberia by keeping the
ball on the ground.

“The main objective is to see how to unite the home-based
players before the game against Liberia and the outcome is not my concern but
that does not mean we will lose the game.

“I also want to use the friendly to build the confidence of
the home-based players,’’ Keshi explained.

On his decision to sideline some foreign-based players,
especially Mikel Obi and Osaze Odemwingie, Keshi said it was not based on
sentiment.

“My decision to sideline some foreign-based players is not
on sentiment but to determine the commitment of the home-based players to the
national team and their current form.

He said that the condition given by some foreign-based
players before deciding whether to play or not was not healthy for the
development of the game in the country.

“Life is by choice, you take or leave it and if you say you
are tired of playing for the Super Eagles, with due respect, we will let you
go. But if you have decided to play, you must give us what we wanted. ’’

The team will tomorrow depart Abuja for Niamey for the
friendlygame.