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Tag: keshi

  • Keshi’s CHAN challenge

    Keshi’s CHAN challenge

    South Africa has always been a fertile hunting ground for Nigeria, and come January, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will attempt to add to Nigeria’s laurels when they storm Mzansi to participate in the biennial CHAN tournament.

    Nigeria will be making her debut in the tournament and is grouped alongside Mozambique, Mali and hosts South Africa in Group D.

    Stephen Keshi became a national hero when he led the Super Eagles to claim Nigeria’s third continental crown with a hard fought 1-0 win over Burkina Faso at the FNB Stadium on February 10, this time he is taking a relatively unknown crop of players who he hopes can add more positive vibes to his growing reputation.

    Nigeria qualified for the 2014 CHAN tournament by edging out Ivory Coast 4-3 on aggregate to book a place in the tournament for the first time but before even the tournament gets underway, the ‘big boss’ has already warned Nigerians to manage their expectations.

    This can’t be further than the truth because during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying game against Malawi, I put the question to him as regards if he has a team because the core of the home based squad had already disintegrated.

    Keshi, in his usual soft demeanor, fired back at me and insisted he didn’t have a team, which translated to him, alongside the team are starting from the scratch. This isn’t far from the truth because players like reliable defender Godfrey Oboabona had left Sunshine Stars to join Caykur Rizespor in Turkey, while Juwon Oshinawa, Dele Olorundare, Henry Uche, Gomo Onduku, Chibuzor Okonkwo , Kalu Uche and a host of others aslo jumped ship.

    Again, there are no guarantees that the likes of Sunday Mba, who I might regard as the poster boy of the current home based side, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Solomon Kwambe might be around by January as foreign clubs are already snooping around to take them on as soon as the winter transfer window opens.

    This leaves Stephen Keshi in a quagmire, as he continues to build a team capable of holding their own in South Africa come January. The task is an enormous one and one will hope he gets it right and enhance his reputation with a commendable outing.

    Thirty players were called into camp when camping resumed in the first week of December, and already Keshi has started to chop and change his squad as Mohammed Jiya, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Ezekiel Mba, Danladi Isah and Chibuzor Madu have been shown the exit door.

    Relatively unknown Plateau United starlet Eric Kwame has been handed a shock call up after impressing the gaffer during the Eagles friendly with Plateau United as well as new Taraba United safe hands Ibrahim Pius as Keshi continues to experiment.

     

    CHOP AND MIX

     

    As an ardent follower of the league, there are certain players that this writer feels would have been given at least a chance during resident camping to prove their mettle subject to being picked for the final squad.

    Enyimba’s Femi Thomas and Theophilus Afelokhai of Kano Pillars are two goalkeepers who have been consistent on the domestic scene for some time now and surely deserve a call up.

    Thomas, who was part of the Flying Eagles silver medal wining team to the 2005 Africa Youth Championship in Congo was colossal as Enyimba won the Federations Cup and narrowly missed the league title, while Afelokhai, a former U-23 international was the man in the middle as Kano Pillars won back to back league titles.

    Surely, one would be tempted to think they would at least made training camp, and are already experienced on the continental stage too. Daniel Akpeyi, Chigozie Agbim and the youngster Dele Alampasu are all good goalkeepers in their rights, but having the duo would have spiced up competition in camp and given the fact that first choice goalkeeper Agbim hasn’t played competitive league football this past season, this would have been a wake up call for the Warri Wolves man.

    It will also be worth mentioning that Chinedu Udoji, Markson Ojobo, Ike ThankGod and Stephen Eze who are arguably the best centre backs in the country, didn’t make the cut as well as marauding left back Uwa Uwadiegwu and the experienced Mutiu Adegoke , who comes with bags of experience.

    The midfield looks promising with the effervescent Kano Pillars lynch pin Rabiu Ali, hardworking Ugonna Uzochukwu of Rangers International and Christian Pyagbara of Sharks of Port-Harcourt whom I tip to be one of the stars of the tournament.

    Ejike Uzoenyi, who spent time at Rennes in Ligue 1 will bring his experience to bear to help the young lads in the midfield, but the likes of Lordson Ichull, Sunday Chinedu and youngster Kingsley Sokari would have given Keshi more ammunition to experiment with given their superlative displays in the recently concluded season.

    The attack is replete with options for the ‘Big Boss’ as he has big striker Gambo Mohammed, Rangers International’s Christian Obiozor who impressed me a lot during the recent Jordan friendly in Amman. His hold up play and first touch is really impressive for someone his size.

    Oghenekaro Etebo, who was a revelation last season has a chance to show what he can do. The Warri Wolves man was the only striker to hit two hat-tricks last season which was also his debut in the top flight. He comes with pace and tenacity and should prove a handful for defenders if he makes the final cut.

    Mfon Udoh, who wasn’t in the initial list called up to camp has been handed a call up and a chance to show his 14 goals in the league was no fluke as Keshi has decided against retaining league leading scorer from last season Victor Namo.

    Ifeanyi Edeh of Rangers International, Taiwo Awoniyi of the Imperial Academy in Ilorin, Gbolaham Salami of Shooting Stars are some of the strikers that Keshi wants to test to see if they can fit into what he is planning to present in South Africa.

    Hopefully Stephen Keshi’s experimentation will yield dividends and also produce players that can graduate into the main squad and provide options for the gaffer as he heads towards Brazil 2014.

     

    WHO PLAYS WHERE

     

    Stephen Keshi has been a proponent of the 4-3-3 system and I assume he will stick to this system as he prepares his team for CHAN Championship as he played same against the Ivorians in Kaduna and in the reverse leg.

    Given any unforeseen circumstances, Chigozie Agbim will play in goal and I suspect the defence is already settled. With Godfrey Oboabona’s exit, Azubuike Egwuekwe will be the main man in the heart of the defence.

    The Warri Wolves defender has been an integral part of Keshi’s team from the onset and his experience from the Africa Nations Cup and the Confederations Cup should be of good bearing. Umar Zango should partner Egwuekwe in defence, while usual suspects Benjamin Francis and Solomon Kwambe should expectedly man the full back positions.

    The midfield will be a very interesting area as I presume Sunday Mba will be the pivot and probably Ugonna Uzochukwu as the anchor. Rabiu Ali also looks likely to start because he has started the last two matches for the CHAN team. Ejike Uzoenyi should provide width while Oghenekaro Etebor might play just behind Gambo Mohammed ( if he is fit for the tournament.)

    Christian Obiozor started the recent Jordan friendly and showed flashes of brilliance, so he just might get the nod if Gambo’s injury worries persist.Ugonna Uzochukwu, who was like a terrier in the middle of the pack in the friendly, has also come good in due time and for my money, is a sure bet to get on the plane to South Africa.

    All of these postulations are based on recent games, but again Keshi is known for his dexterity and can switch when he deems fit, but what is certain though, is that he has a huge task ahead of him as he continues to tinker his team for the biennial tournament.

  • Keshi hopes to improve World Cup record

    Keshi hopes to improve World Cup record

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has revealed his 2014 World Cup target is to surpass the country’s Round of 16 records at the mundial.

    Nigeria reached the Round of 16 at USA 1994 and France 1998, but failed to go beyond the group stage in Korea-Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010.

    Top Nigeria officials have said they will not set a World Cup target for the team in Brazil so as not to put them under undue pressure.

    But Keshi has now said he hopes to lead Nigeria to improve on these records by at least reaching the quarterfinal, which is also the best performance by an African team and has been achieved by Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).

    “I am looking out to get a very good squad for the World Cup and go beyond Nigeria’s record in the previous World Cups,”MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying to Brila FM on Monday.

    Nigeria is drawn in Group F along with Argentina, Bosnia-Herzogovina and Iran.

    Keshi has proposed a pre-World Cup training camp in the United States from May 25.

    The African champions had also picked a training base in Sao Paolo and will play a friendly on March 5 in Europe as part of the build-up to Brazil 2014.

     

     

  • CHAN 2014: Keshi rues missed Xmas with wife, kids

    CHAN 2014: Keshi rues missed Xmas with wife, kids

    • Would love to hangout with them in US
    • Says it will not be easy spending Christmas in camp

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi said on Saturday that it would not be easy spending the Christmas in camp in preparation for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), stating: “I will love to be with my family in the U.S. and hangout with them, but we are here as part of the sacrifice we have to make.’’

    “It is difficult to be in camp during Christmas. It has been like that since we took over. We have had three Christmas and New Year in the camp, what can we do. I will love to be with my family in the U.S. and hangout with them, but we are here as part of the sacrifice we have to make,’’ Keshi said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CHAN is scheduled to hold in South Africa between January 11 and February 1.

    Keshi, however, told NAN in Abuja that he would have loved to spend the holiday in the U.S. with his family, but that time would not permit him.

    According to him, the task of preparing the home-based Eagles for the CHAN had taken over his Christmas and New Year celebration.

    The Super Eagles handler blamed their three consecutive Christmas in camp on the poor structure of the country’s domestic leagues.

    “Every national league in Europe that I know works accordingly with the national team so that things will work in a marriage form. But here in Nigeria it is a different ball game. We are going for a big competition in Africa and the leagues are not on.

    “The boys are not playing in any competition. How are they going to be in form? However, I just want to do my job, but honestly speaking it is not good,’’ Keshi said.

    He urged Nigerians not to expect too much from the team as there was nothing on ground to prepare it for the championship.

    Keshi noted that with the leagues on break, Nigerians would be asking for too much if they expected the team to lift the CHAN trophy.

    “It is not possible to say I will win the trophy because what is going on here is very difficult to get us the result, but we will try to do our best.

  • Siasia hails Keshi for picking Eaglets stars

    Siasia hails Keshi for picking Eaglets stars

    • Says it is good for career progression

    Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia on Friday in Lagos said the invitation of three 2013 Golden Eaglets into the home-based Super Eagles camp would fasten the players’ career progression.

    Siasia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the invitation was a good development, saying many Nigerians had wanted the players to head straight to the main Super Eagles.

    NAN reports that the home-based Super Eagles, currently camping in Abuja, are preparing for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled for South Africa next January.

    “I think it’s good because Nigerians want them to go straight to the Super Eagles to join the team that will qualify for the World Cup. But, this is like a test for them, to see if they are mature enough to be part of the Super Eagles going to Brazil. I think it’s a good idea.

    “Let him just go and see how he can take them a bit as they do well. I think Stephen Keshi will want to get them there. Cristiano Ronaldo was 17 when he went to USA 1994. He didn’t start though. That was where they kind of unveiled him.

    “If a player is good enough the coach should know. If he is not mature enough to play, he will still know. So, we just wait and see what these guys will do in this CHAN tournament and, from there, the coach will decide on what to do with them.”

    The Super Eagles, who are the senior male national football team, are preparing for the CHAN scheduled for between January 11 and February 1.

    Keshi had called up, as part of a preliminary 30-man squad, the three players who were members of the 2013 Golden Eaglets team. The players are goalkeeper Sunday Alampasu, midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho and forward Taiwo Awoniyi.

    NAN recalls that the Eaglets had in October won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

  • Brazil 2014 fifa World Cup: Odegbami urges Keshi; Eagles need creative midfielders

    Brazil 2014 fifa World Cup: Odegbami urges Keshi; Eagles need creative midfielders

    A former Green Eagles player, Segun Odegbami, on Sunday advised Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, to ensure the team’s attacking-midfield is strengthened before the 2014 World Cup.

    Odegbami told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the team was lacking creativity in the midfield, adding that the Eagles would be strong contenders if the midfield was improved.

    “Right now, we don’t have the creative midfield to be able to hold on to the ball for us and keep control. We lose the ball too easily. And all of this is as a result of the midfield; we just don’t have that creativity in the midfield that the team requires at the moment,’’ he said.

    Odegbami noted that the search for the right creative midfielder was the responsibility of Keshi, adding that it would be wrong to start suggesting players for him.

    “Well, I am sure he knows what the problem is, it is for him to get the right players now aside the one’s that he has played. Once he can achieve that, I think the team will be a lot stronger. The team is presently strong but it could be a lot stronger with the presence of creativity,’’ Odegbami noted.

    According to him, Keshi must be careful to avoid recalling some players who have played for the Eagles in the past and have since passed their peak.

  • Keshi drops five players

    Keshi drops five players

    • Invites Plateau Utd star, 5 others to CHAN squad

    For his sterling display against the Super Eagles in Plateau United’s 2-0 loss in Saturday’s practice match, star midfielder from his side, Eric Kwame has gotten an instant call-up from Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

    Keshi, who said he was impressed by the display of his boys as well as that of the Plateau side, was particularly thrilled with Kwame’s display that he handed him an instant call-up. Five other players were also called up as the coaching crew gears up for the making of a final squad for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa next month. Five others were asked to drop out and try their luck next time.

    The five other invited players who are expected to hit the Bolton White Apartment of the team immediately are Warri Wolves’ Joshua Obaji, Emmanuel Nwankwo of Bukola Babes, Sunshine Stars of Akure’s Paul Ikenna, Kano Pillars’ Shehu Abdulahi and returnee Heartland of Owerri winger, Obinna Nwachukwu.

    Those dropped from the squad are goalkeeper, Isa Danladi, who copped an injury that will take over ten days to heal, Chibuzor Madu, who is also injured and has not trained with the team in the last three days, Lobi’s Douglas Achive, Warri Wolves’ Emenike Achibi, who was invited only last week and Akwa United’s Ezekiel Mba.

    Assistant coach Dan ‘the Bull Amokachi, who spoke on behalf of Keshi to the players, said they were dropped not because they were not good enough but because of time constraint, assuring them that sooner than later they will again be invited to the national team under the present scheme of things. “We urge you to return to your clubsides and continue to give your best and we will keep monitoring your progress for the future”, he said.

  • OUTSTANDING FOUR MONTHS’ PAY: At last, Keshi paid N20m

    OUTSTANDING FOUR MONTHS’ PAY: At last, Keshi paid N20m

    • Big Boss’ assistants get pay too
    • Other coaches to be paid on Tuesday
    • NSC rescues NFF with N35m

    Sportinglife can reveal today that Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi’s account has been credited with his outstanding four months’ salaries amounting to N20 million.

    SportingLife gathered exclusively from those who should know at the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja on Friday night that the sum of N35 million was credited into the accounts of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday, with word rife that the federation chiefs were directed to immediately offset the outstanding salaries of the Super Eagles coach and his assistants.

    It was scooped further that the salaries of the other national team coaches will be paid on Tuesday unfailingly.

    In the case of former Flying Eagles coach John Obuh, who submitted claims amounting to N22 million, it was decided by NSC’s accountant that Obuh’s statement of indebtedness will be vetted to determine what he should be paid.

    Indeed, the NSC men had to draw the N35 million from their accounts to pay the coaches until when the paper work concerning the N200 million which was graciously given the two bodies to pay the coaches’ outstanding salaries is completed.

  • Onazi, Ogu tip CHAN Eagles for trophy

    Onazi, Ogu tip CHAN Eagles for trophy

    • Keshi cagey about final list

    As preparations for the 2014 African Nations Championship, CHAN reaches the crucial bend, some members of the national team based abroad have been sending positives across to encourage the team ahead of the tourney which starts January 11, in South Africa.

    The latest to speak on the team’s chances are Lazio of Italy playmaker, Ogenyi Onazi and Academica Du Combra of Portugal combative midfielder, John Ogu. Eagles’ Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes the two players as saying that with the quality they have seen of the players each time they were in camp together, there is no team in Africa that will be good enough for the CHAN trophy in South Africa than the Super Eagles.

    Hear Onazi: “We are the African champions and we are sure that by the close of the competition, our brothers at home will not let us down because they will win the CHAN trophy to sustain what we have jointly achieved. Luckily for us we have the same coach for us and our brothers at home, I see no obstacle ahead”.

    On his part, Ogu praised the impact, Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has had in his career and said he believes that the same was being extended to players in the CHAN Eagles. “Just help me tell my teammates that I’m here rooting for them and very sure that by the end of the day they will be celebrating with the Cup back home in Nigeria. Greet Coach for me too..oooo”.

  • Keshi: I would have stopped Iheanacho’s Man City move if…

    Keshi: I would have stopped Iheanacho’s Man City move if…

    Coach Stephen Keshi has insisted that he would have resisted the movement of Kelechi Iheanacho to Manchester City, if the player had been in camp earlier.

    According to the Big Boss, there was nothing he could do about it because a process was already on before the 2013 FIFA U-17 Most Valuable player was invited to senior national team “there is no way we could keep Kelechi. It is because there was something in the pipe line before now.

    So we had to allow him go. But if not, I would not have allowed him go at least for now, because, in as much as the club needs him, so do we also. I would not say I would miss him in the team, because, I am just knowing him for only some days. He is good a player, with a lot of potentials. He is an asset to the country, and we pray for him to succeed in his career. As a human being, I will miss him among the family”.

    The former Super Eagles Captain said that he is in constant talks with the players in camp to ensure that many of them stay around till January when the CHAN championship would be played, “ as regards the the older players, we are pleading to them to delay their movements for now, and they have agreed, while the new players we would talk to them to know their mind set. It makes our job more difficult” he bemoaned.

    It would be recalled that Stephen Keshi led the exodus of players out of the local league after he was axed by the football federation in 1985 alongside his team mates in the then New Nigeria Bank of Benin. They failed to report to camp at the stipulated time.

    Keshi left for Cote d’ivoire enroute to Belgium, opening professional windows for other Nigerian players.

  • Keshi to Home Eagles: Club form will determine invitation

    Keshi to Home Eagles: Club form will determine invitation

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi has revealed to SportingLife that invitation of players to the senior national team is purely based on consistency at the club level.

    The Big Boss spoke at the backdrop of the dropping of two players and inviting four other to the team’s camp in Abuja. He said that for a player to be invited, such a player must be consistent and must be playing well “It is not necessarily when you are not playing you are invited to the national team. No, you must be playing regularly, and my coaches must have watched you play for your club before an invitation is extended to you”

    Continuing, the former international said “ seeing you play in one game will not determine your invitation but we must have watched you two or three times before an invitation is extended to you. That is the reason why we invited the four new players. We hope they would be able to measure up to expectations at the end of the day”.

    On the players that were dropped, the former Togo and Mali senior National Team coach said “as for those that were sent home, we feel that it is not yet time for them to be here, because we don’t have enough time to start grooming players. When such a time comes, we may extend invitations to them. They are good players at their own level, but there is no way we can keep everyone them” he concluded.

    He further revealed that there would not be any training tour for the home based players before the CHAN tournament holding in South Africa early next month, but said “we would have liked to be out 10 days before the kick off of the CHAN championship in South Africa, but I don’t think that would happen. All we are going to do is to stay here at home, to do the home work and leave for South Africa early in January to enable the player acclimatize before the championship proper” he concluded.