The Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said he has not given up on the duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses featuring in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Burkina Faso, after consulting with the medical team.
Speaking ahead of the team’s last training session at the Soccer City in Soweto, South Africa, Keshi was quoted by team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, as saying: “I will wait till the last minute and by Sunday we will know whether the boys will play or not.
“Any other opinion is unacceptable.”
Keshi however assured Nigerians not to panic over the two players as the medics are working round the clock to ensure that they are fit for the final, even as he said that in the case of the unexpected, he has capable replacements to fit into the shoes of the duo.
He said: “I can understand the apprehension of the public over the two players but we must be a little patient, because I know that the two of them want to play in the final and the medical team is working round the clock.”
Meanwhile, Keshi has expressed shock over the death of top Nigerian sports journalist, Joe Ighile, who until his death was the Sports Manager of wave-making Channels Television.
Ighile reportedly slumped and died while presenting a live programme on Friday night in Lagos.
He was in South Africa at the start of the AFCON and even interviewed Keshi among other officials in Nelspruit before dashing home on official assignment.
On Friday night, he even called the Super Eagles Media Officer to await his call for an interview on the popular ‘Sports @9’ on Channels TV.
But while presenting the programme, he suddenly called for a break and reportedly slumped and died before help could come.
Keshi said: “It’s really sad to lose such a fantastic journalist and we hope we can do well in the final to make his family happy.
“But we send our heartfelt condolences to his family, Channels Television and the generality of Nigerian people.
“May God, Himself keep his sporting soul.”
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