Out of contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi will today (Wednesday), submit a 30-man list for the Afcon 2015 qualifying double header clash against Sudan next month.
The Afcon 2013 winning coach told The EagleOnline that the list will be handed over to the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat for onward invitation of players from their various club sides in Europe.
“The time table is there and normally we have to make it public two weeks before the match.
“The truth is that I’m still compiling the list and hopefully I will be done and will be handed over to the NFF today (Wednesday),” he revealed.
The Big boss however urged Nigerians not to write-off the African Champions chance of qualifying to defend their AFCON title.
“Perfectly, I understand the feelings of Nigerians towards the qualification, I equally feel that way as a Nigerian. But I urge Nigerians not to give up because we still have four matches to play. We are going to fight until the end of the qualifier matches.
“As patriotic Nigerians, I urge them not to write-off the team. They have to stand behind the team and have confidence in them that they will qualify. We are not doing them any good abusing and cursing them. It will not solve the problem. The truth is that the players are not the losers if we don’t qualify because they will continue playing and earning from their clubs but me and you will miss the Nations Cup tournament.
“We must nurture the players but not pamper them. We must give them that confidence level to encourage them to do it.
On his impending contract, Keshi hinted that the crisis that is rocking the NFF has adversely affected the process but he has opened up discussions with the Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo.
“Actually, the contract was part of what I discussed with the Honourable Minister but the truth is that we are still talking and nothing very concrete has been reached. It is so because we don’t have football federation president. Ideally, it should be contract with him and I. Whatever I am doing now is just for us to move ahead and easy things for the next executive committee coming on board.”
The Afcon 2013 winning coach told The EagleOnline that the list will be handed over to the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat for onward invitation of players from their various club sides in Europe.
“The time table is there and normally we have to make it public two weeks before the match.
“The truth is that I’m still compiling the list and hopefully I will be done and will be handed over to the NFF today (Wednesday),” he revealed.
The Big boss however urged Nigerians not to write-off the African Champions chance of qualifying to defend their AFCON title.
“Perfectly, I understand the feelings of Nigerians towards the qualification, I equally feel that way as a Nigerian. But I urge Nigerians not to give up because we still have four matches to play. We are going to fight until the end of the qualifier matches.
“As patriotic Nigerians, I urge them not to write-off the team. They have to stand behind the team and have confidence in them that they will qualify. We are not doing them any good abusing and cursing them. It will not solve the problem. The truth is that the players are not the losers if we don’t qualify because they will continue playing and earning from their clubs but me and you will miss the Nations Cup tournament.
“We must nurture the players but not pamper them. We must give them that confidence level to encourage them to do it.
On his impending contract, Keshi hinted that the crisis that is rocking the NFF has adversely affected the process but he has opened up discussions with the Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo.
“Actually, the contract was part of what I discussed with the Honourable Minister but the truth is that we are still talking and nothing very concrete has been reached. It is so because we don’t have football federation president. Ideally, it should be contract with him and I. Whatever I am doing now is just for us to move ahead and easy things for the next executive committee coming on board.”