Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, is in the eye of the storm, following his final 23-man squad selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.After much intrigues, suspense and speculations, the final list was made public by monday midnight and the outburst of emotions that had trailed the names picked to execute the World Cup for Nigeria had spread like wild fire. From all nooks and crannies of the country, reactions of shock, disbelieve and even elation in some quarters had been registered as the football fraternity in Nigeria x rayed the list.
Interestingly, Keshi had admitted that it was a very difficult and tough decision to make, but his admission had not calmed frayed nerves as he had come under a barrage of criticism for dropping African nations Cup 2013 hero, Sunday Mba, CHAN Most Valuable Player(MVP) Ejike Uzoenyi and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who was dropped for fumbling and wobbling Chigozie Agbim.
Keshi’s surprise inclusions are Ukraine -based forward, Babatunde Micheal and Kunle Odunlami, who plays for Sunshine Stars of Akure
Skipper Joseph Yobo and striker Osaze Odewingie will feature for Nigeria in Brazil after being recalled, following a long absence in the Super Eagles team.
For Etim Esin, it was apparent that Keshi will have a difficult time to justify to Nigerians his choice of players for the World Cup. Etim argued that the likes of Shola Ameobi has no business in the team, while a talented player like Ejike Uzoenyi who played a key role in the World Cup qualification did not merit a place in the squad.
“This list has not made Nigerians happy and I know that this would be a difficult World Cup for Keshi because, it is all about results.
“ I wonder what Shola Amaeobi is doing in the team while a talented player Ejike Uzoenyi that every body would love to see at the world cup is dropped.
“As the coach, Keshi has given us his best 23 players and we should back him up, though it is sad that players that worked for the World Cup are left behind while those that had no contribution to the qualifications strolled into the team.
Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Public Realations Officer(PRO), Ben Ekpo, without mincing words stated that Stephen Keshi made a very big mistake by dropping Uzoenyi and Sunday Mba from his final selection.
Ekpo faulted Joseph Yobo’s inclusion, describing the Norwich City of England player as a mere tourist in Brazil.
“Yobo is a spent force and is going to Brazil as a tourist because he will have noting to offer to the team.”
Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers in the same vein had expressed displeasure with the exclusion of Uzoenyi from the Nigeria 23 -man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.
Media Officer to the club, Foster Chime, expressed surprise over the exclusion of the CHAN Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Nations Cup 2013 hero, Sunday Mba.
“I just heard this morning that Uzoenyi and Mba were dropped. I won’t say it’s unfortunate because the Chief Coach (Keshi) has said before now that he knows by heart the squad he will take to Brazil. So maybe before now he had already made up his mind that both Ejike and Mba will not make the team,” Chime said.
He insisted that he would have preferred if both Uzoenyi and Mba were in the team as they would have added a creative flair to the team, which is seemingly lacking in the current selection. He however, stated that Keshi ‘knows how to succeed’ and must have chosen a squad that fits his plans.
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