Former Nigeria central defender and Stephen Keshi’s 1994 Super Eagles’ team mate, Chidi Nwanu, has called for a total overhaul of the country’s senior national team “to make it more productive and result-oriented.”
Nwanu, who pastors a church in Belgium, told NationSport yesterday that the attitude of the players needs to change for Nigeria to continue being a major force in African football.
Nwanu, who watched the Eagles versus Congo and South Africa versus Eagles ties on television in Belgium, told NationSport he was disappointed with the performance of the players in the two matches and that it showed clearly and glaringly that the players were no more in the mood to fight for victory.
His words: “It is sad to watch the Super Eagles lose to Congo Brazzaville the way the team lost in Calabar to Congo. It showed that there is a great problem in the team and it is high time something drastic was done. I would recommend a total overhauling of the team for Nigeria’s name not to be put into disrepute.
“The way I see these players now, there is a total decline in their performance compared with when the players fought gallantly in South Africa in 2013 to win the African Cup of Nation. So, there is need for my friend and brother Stephen Keshi to have a second look at this team and do a surgical operation through overhauling of the team.
“Nigeria is a country blessed with lots of talented football players and we need players that are hungry, devoted and dedicated and ready to fight for shirts in the team.
‘Keshi should remember that during our playing days there was great fight for position in the team. Most times I did extra trainings and worked very hard just to ensure I picked the first team shirt ahead of Keshi himself while Keshi too was very resolute to keep the shirt. Same thing happened in other departments of the team during the 1994 team. This was the magic for the successes we recorded during that time.”
The Belgium-based pastor also advised his friend Stephen Keshi to put sentiments aside and call up players that are playing regularly and doing well in their respective clubs abroad.
Reacting on the exclusion of Villarreal of Spain striker Ikechukwu Uche from the team, Nwanu said that Keshi is experienced enough to be able to manage any player with stubborn attitude and that the alleged indiscipline of Ike Uche shouldn’t be the yard stick to ban him from playing for the national team.
“Personal differences should be put aside and the needful should be done,” Nwanu said. “The national team should not be anybody’s palace. A coach should be able to accommodate any player no matter how bad such player’s attitude or character is.”
“For example the media and fans fought for Osaze (Odemwingie) to be at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the player had great impact at the World Cup. So, this is what I am saying. Keshi should try and bring in fighters that want to prove a point.
‘Also, there should be at least two to three capable and quality players fighting for each position in the team. This will definitely improve not only the quality of the team but the performance too,” he advised.
