Keshi said on Saturday that he expects his team to give its all and come out tops in what is being projected as a spectacle
Browsing: Stephen Keshi
The Super Eagles earned passage to the quarter final through two late penalty goals courtesy of Victor Moses
Instead, the Nigeria gaffer sticks with the pair of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo
Addressing the players at the team’s evening training in Rustenberg, South Africa on Sunday evening, Keshi said the team may have been hard done by some calls by officiating officials but they should learn to finish games well and with wide margins before such calls are made
Reacting to Friday’s shock officiating, which culminated in a dubious penalty award to Zambia by the Egyptian referee, team skipper, Joseph Yobo, said while he would not want to question the officials, he will want to appeal for fairness, so that the best team will always win
On the penalty miss by Mikel Obi, the Super Eagles handler said that the Chelsea player should not be crucified
The ex-international however admitted that he held a meeting with his employers after the game which ended 1-1
Obi, who was named Man of The Match, said he preferred the three points to being so named and assured Nigerians that the Eagles will be back and better in the game against Zambia on Friday
The former international, who was among the guest analysts on Supersport, believes the Super Eagles may have blown the chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa with the draw against Burkina Faso
Keshi said in spite of the draw against the not highly rated Burkina Faso team, the spirit of the Super Eagles and the coaching crew will not be dampened
The former Super Eagles captain was speaking at the pre-game press conference, when he outlined what he suspects the Burkinabes will do and explained how he planned to counter it
The former National team handler also admonished Nigerians to stop debating on the final list of players for the African Cup of Nations since Keshi has decided on the players he is taking to the Nations Cup
Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has said the game will afford him another opportunity of testing his wards against fluid opposition and preparing them for the task of doing well at the Nations Cup
Meanwhile, the national team has celebrated the naming of first choice keeper, Vincent Enyeama, as Africa’s best goalkeeper for last year, with Keshi urging Enyeama to demonstrate his selection by putting up a solid performance at the African Cup of Nations 2013 championship in South Africa
The medicals included scans, chest x-ray, blood tests and general health test for the players, with the medical team, headed by Dr. Ibrahim Gyaran, assisted by Physiotherapist Adewale Oladejo, being very busy for the better part of the day
Apart from Yobo, goalkeepers Enyeama and Austin Ejide, defender Elderson Echiejile, midfielder Mikel Obi and forward Ikechukwu Uche who were at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, the rest are profile-on-the-rise and ambitious performers ready to captivate Africa
Addressing the players and officials in company with the Director of Elite Athletes, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji AMinu Maigari, Abdulahi said that President Goodluck Jonathan approved all his requests for a successful outing at the Nations Cup
The Nigeria Football Federation has disowned the purported final list of players of the Super Eagles that will feature in…
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
Even before the players were asked to go, three coaches – Sylvanu Okpala (MON), Ike Shorunmi and Hyoundonou Valere – took the players to a section of the dinning hall for special counseling and words of encouragement and assured them that they are still part and parcel of the team and will be recalled once the team returns from the Nations Cup championship and starts hostilities in the World Cup qualifiers