AFCON 2013: ‘Eagles, 75 Per Cent Ready’

Coach Stephen Keshi, says his Nations Cup squad is around 75
percent complete, with two months to go until the tournament kicks off in South
Africa.

The Nigeria coach has embarked on a gradual re-tooling of the Super Eagles after the team failed to qualify for the 2012 edition under Samson Siasia.

With a testing friendly over Venezuela successfully
negotiated this month, Keshi says his team are close to completion.

“We are still building, but I would say we are about seventy
five percent complete,” Keshi told newsmen yesterday. “We know about 75 to 80
percent of the players that will make it.”

Most watchers have pointed to the defence as the major area
requiring work in the build-up to the continental showpiece, but the former
defender says the door remains open in all areas.

“The remaining twenty-five percent includes the entire team.
We have an almost settled squad now, but if we see a very good player in any
position, we’ll give him the chance to show that he deserves a place in the
squad.”

Nigeria goes into the tournament as one of the favourites,
but Keshi says expectations should be tempered.

“We are still building. Usually, we would have had two years
to build, play qualifiers and prepare for 2014, but the changes to the Nations
Cup means we have no time, so we just ask that Nigerians be patient and give
this team time to develop.”