The Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday declared that individual performance by players against Cape Verde will be the last yardstick to select the final 23-man list of the national team, the Super Eagles, for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Contrary to earlier declaration that the list will be made public on Tuesday, NFF says it will now be announced on Wednesday after the friendly game against Cape Verde scheduled for Wednesday in Faro, Portugal.
An Executive committee member of the NFF, Barrister Chris Green, explained that the date was chosen “so as to make clarifications about several issues.”
Green added: “We need to make clarifications about several issues.
“The Super Eagles have a game against Cape Verde on Wednesday and it is only after that game that the list will be announced.”
Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, recently suffered a knee injury, which kept him out of Nigeria’s final 2013 Africa Cup of Nation’s qualifier against Liberia on October 13, 2012.
Green revealed that Keshi will closely monitoring the fitness of the Fenerbahce defender in the game against the Blue Sharks on Wednesday.
Green added: “I can confirm to you that Joseph Yobo will play in Wednesday’s game against Cape Verde and the coach (Keshi) will use that game to ascertain his (Yobo’s) fitness level as well as the other hopefuls in the list.
“The good news is that so far, there are no injury worries in the team.”
Keshi will drop four more players when he announces the final 23-man list on Wednesday.
The deadline for the submission of team sheets of participating teams for the 2013 AFCON is Wednesday.
The competition gets underway on January 19.
Trending
- OSUN: NANS seeks intervention from Governor Adeleke, threatens protest over fee hike, palliative
- Easter Celebration: IGP orders round-the-clock water-tight security at all public spaces
- Kogi poll: SDP witness contradicts self on alleged ‘affidavit forgery’ against Governor Ododo
- No BoT in Labour Party, spokesman dismisses takeover claims
- Nigerian writer urges preservation of literary heritage amid writer shortage
- Health professionals brainstorm in Abuja, seek drug free society
- CAF announce dates for Champions League, Confederation Cup Finals
- Tayo Ayinde withdraws suit against Gani Adams, restates commitment to peace