Nigeria Football Federation Board member, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, has picked holes in the selection of Super Eagles players by Coach Stephen Keshi for the Africa Nations Championship.
Kwande said those selected were not the best legs from the local league in Nigeria.
Kwande was visibly angry with the fact that some players that have not played for their club sides for months before the championship were picked by Keshi for the CHAN in South Africa.
He said: “To be honest with you, I am impressed with the performance of the Eagles, being Nigeria’s first qualification for the Africa Nations Championship and to come the third in the competition is good, but I think we could have done better knowing fully well that we have better legs back home that are playing.
“Some of the boys that were brought to the tournament were not actually the best of the best from the home front, if we are to be honest with ourselves.
“Look at the case of goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim.
“Yes, he had some very good saves in the competition but at the same time he only kept twice for his club last season.
“We have two goalkeepers that were rated the best in the Nigeria Premier League last season from Enyimba Football Club and Kano Pillars.
“None of these goalkeepers was called up (by Coach Stephen Keshi).
“We ought to have gotten a better striker from the local league compared with the ones we paraded in CHAN.”
Kwande suggested way forward for Nigeria’s participation in the next edition of the competition.
He said: “I think we in the Football Federation next time should work hand in hand with the League Management Company to ensure the best legs in the Nigerian league are recruited for CHAN.
“I know every season we have the best coach, best player of the season and Nigeria Professional League best 11.
“So I think we should try and see how we can localise this competition (CHAN).”
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