Mixed reactions on Tuesday continued to trail the 23-man Super Eagles list for the World Cup in Brazil released on Monday by Coach Stephen Keshi, with some saying they team could win the tournament.
Some equally expressed their disappointment over the dropping of some players, especially those who helped the nation to lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa
Others yet said the list was fair and showed that Keshi had a good knowledge of the players.
Bitrus Bewarang, the President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on telephone 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.
He said: “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.”
Bewarang 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, Kashimawo Laloko, an Assistant Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association, said he was disappointed with the choice of the reserve goalkeepers.
Laloko regretted that the choice of Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim from the onset was unhealthy for Nigerian football, noting that Ejide was already old and was seriously dropping in form.
He said: “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 overflog because the team has been slated already.”
Laloko, who is also the Technical Director of the Pepsi Football Academy, urged Keshi to work seriously on the Eagles defence if Nigeria must go far in the World Cup.
He added: “The defence of Keshi will be suspect and he needs to work very well on that.
“As a defender, he needs to work hard to get the best out of them (defenders) so that he does not embarrass himself.”
Laloko also said he was dissatisfied with the inclusion of Shola Ameobi in the final squad.
A former spokesman of the NFA, Austin Mgbolu, told NAN 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.
He said: “As an observer, I was surprised that some players missed out but I believe Keshi has done a critical analysis and understands the potency of the players he chose.
“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.”
Jonathan Akpoborie, a former Super Eagles player, said though a few exclusions came as a shock, it was generally a good 23-man list.
Akpoborie said: “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.”
Also, two ex-internationals, Nigeria’s Olympic gold-winning Dream Team’s goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu and former Super Eagles midfielder, Waidi Akanni, described the list as fair.
Dosu told NAN that the players should justify the confidence reposed in them.
Dosu said: “They should be determined to do their best on and off the field as ambassadors.
“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.
“They (players) should believe that Nigerians are behind them with prayers.”
Akanni, however, observed that there were too many central defenders.
He said: “It was not a bad list except that I think it has too many defenders.
“About eight defenders and most of them cannot even be converted to right full back.
“Apart from this, I think it’s fair enough.
“I hope the selected players will leave up to expectation of fans.”
NAN reports that Keshi released a final list of 23 players for the Brazil 2014 World Cup on Monday midnight.
The final list includes goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim, while the 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.
The final list was submitted on June 2, as demanded by the Federation of International Football Association.
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