Mixed Reactions Trail Keshi’s W/Cup List

Super Eagles Striker, Emmanuel Emenike taking on a Greece defender in their friendly match early today. The encounter ended goalless

Football fans across Nigeria have reacted with mixed feelings over the 23-man list released by Coach Stephen Keshi for the prosecution of the forthcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. While some believe that the final list contained good players, others were of the opinion that the coach was sentimental in some of his selections.
Keshi early yesterday released a 23-man list comprising three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and seven attackers for the mundial. Out of the 23, 19 of them will be making their world Cup debut in Brazil.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, an ardent football fan, Pius Godwin said that the fact that Keshi had earlier said he was confused over his final list suggests that he might not have been objective in his selection.
“keshi must have had a mindset and I believe it played a role in his final decisions”, said Godwin.
A businessman, Prince Okigbo said that the players picked were good enough, even though some of those dropped were better.
“The list is okay, but I am not happy that Chigozie Agbim was picked. I don’t think that he is one of the best we have in the Nigerian Professional Football league (NPFL). Also, strikers Shola Ameobi and Michael Babatunde have not been playing consistently in their clubs and have scored very few goals and these can’t be used to rate them as strikers”.
‘The defence is also suspect and needs to be worked on seriously, I have my doubts over Joseph Yobo”.
The President, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Bitrus Bewarang told newsmen in Abuja  that the team could lift the World Cup.
Bewarang said that Keshi had changed the fortunes of the Super Eagles with 19 players’ debuting at the World Cup.
“The present day football belongs to the younger ones and that is what interests me about Nigeria; we have abundance of talents.
“With this, they will continue to grow. Keshi has not made the mistake of the past which saw Nigeria continue with players discovered by Clemence Westerhof even after he left the Eagles.
“For us to be able to get better players to take over from the older ones became a problem and our standard continued to drop.
“I think Keshi is on the right track by mixing the new players with few older ones,’’ he said.
He noted that Keshi had his reason for the exclusion of Ejike Uzoenyi, Joel Obi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Obinna Nsofor, Nosa Igiebor, Sunday Mba and goalkeeper Daniel Akpoenyi from the final list.
Bewarang urged Nigerians to pray for the team to succeed rather than criticise what could not be changed.
Speaking in the same vein, Kashimawo Laloko, an Assistant Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said he was disappointed with the choice of the reserve goalkeepers.
He regretted that the choice of Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim from onset was unhealthy for Nigerian football, noting that Ejide was already old and was seriously dropping in form.
“Those two goalkeepers who are reserved are no goalkeepers.
“Because Keshi is the boss, he feels he can do whatever he wants and this is also justified with the inclusion of Joseph Yobo.
“The issue is something we don’t need to over flog, because the team has been slated already,’’ Laloko said.
Laloko, who is also the Technical Director of Pepsi Football Academy, urged Keshi to work seriously on the Eagles defence if Nigeria must go far in the World Cup.
A former spokesman of the NFA, Austin Mgbolu, told newsmen that Nigerians should support the Eagles and respect Keshi’s decision.
Mgbolu, who expressed satisfaction with the list said it was important for Nigerians to concentrate on giving the Eagles the needed support.
“All we need to do at this moment is to join hands and support the team so that they will perform optimally at the World Cup.
“Keshi knows what he needs and I think the selection points to the areas where he might be laying more emphasis on; which is the defence and attack,” Mgbolu said.
Jonathan Akpoborie, a former Super Eagles player said though a few exclusions came as a shock, it was generally a good 23-man list.
“Generally, I think it’s a very good team, in spite of the fact that some might be aggrieved over the exclusion of two or three players.
“However, this is not the time to complain. This is the time when we need to support this team so that they will go far in this tournament,” Akpoborie said.
“I am expecting the team to do well in Brazil. Our first game is very important and it is not going to be easy because every country that qualifies is a potential winner.
The final list includes; goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim, while midfielders are Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo and Reuben Gabriel.
The defenders are Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose and Kunle Odunlami.
Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses and Uche Nwofor are in the forward line.
Ejike Uzoenyi, Joel Obi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Obinna Nsofor, Nosa Igiebor, Sunday Mba and goalkeeper Daniel Akpoenyi were excluded from the final list.

Uzoigwe Chukwere