The feud between Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, and the Technical
Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has degenerated after
the coach refused to submit a provisional list of 35 players for the
World Cup.
Relations between Keshi and the federation became frosty last week when Keshi was queried for attending a sponsor’s event on the day he had an appointment with the technical committee.
Relations between Keshi and the federation became frosty last week when Keshi was queried for attending a sponsor’s event on the day he had an appointment with the technical committee.
He was also accused of embarking on an unapproved vacation in America.
Sources at the NFF disclosed last night that Keshi had also failed to reply to the issues raised in the query by the Chris Green-led committee.
Football followers in the country have described the unfolding development as disturbing given that the World Cup is fast approaching in Brazil.
The federation was hoping to announce this provisional list of 35 players for the World Cup by the end of the week.
But a furious Keshi kicked yesterday he was not in a hurry to submit the provisional list but rather accused the committee of mounting undue pressure on him on the deadline on when to submit the list.
Keshi also said the committee was not following the right channel as he only read in the media that he was to submit a 35-man squad provisional list.
"I am not in a hurry to submit the list. First, the report was that I
was to submit 40 names. Now I am hearing it is 35 players. I will only
submit a list of 30 players when I am ready," he insisted yesterday.
Nigeria will regroup in London on May 26, two days before a friendly match against Scotland at Craven Cottage.
The Eagles will play two more friendly matches against USA and Greece in America before leaving for Brazil on June.11.
Meanwhile, ex Nigerian international, Emeka Ezeugo, believes the Super Eagles would have no excuse not to progress to the knock-out stage of the World Cup finals.
The World Cup is due to start in Brazil in June, with Eagles bidding for a turning point in their fifth appearance in world's most glamorous competition.
Nigeria will regroup in London on May 26, two days before a friendly match against Scotland at Craven Cottage.
The Eagles will play two more friendly matches against USA and Greece in America before leaving for Brazil on June.11.
Meanwhile, ex Nigerian international, Emeka Ezeugo, believes the Super Eagles would have no excuse not to progress to the knock-out stage of the World Cup finals.
The World Cup is due to start in Brazil in June, with Eagles bidding for a turning point in their fifth appearance in world's most glamorous competition.
Ezeugo, who was a member of the Nigerian team to USA '94, remarked at
the weekend that the Eagles were lucky with the draw that pitted them
against Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina in Group F.
He expressed his view at an exhibition match to promote human rights awareness between former international players and members of the Nigerian entertainment industry in Abuja.
The rugged player, famed for his play breaking role under Clemens Westerhof, said the Eagles were in a more tasking group when they made their World Cup debut 20 years ago, than their first round group in Brazil.
'' This is a World Cup tournament and you can't ask for a better scenario than the current group make up. To be fair, there is no excuse for Nigeria not to advance from the preliminary stage. Group F in my opinion is very soft and you cannot ask for a better group than this,'' the former Abia Warriors coach declared.
He expressed his view at an exhibition match to promote human rights awareness between former international players and members of the Nigerian entertainment industry in Abuja.
The rugged player, famed for his play breaking role under Clemens Westerhof, said the Eagles were in a more tasking group when they made their World Cup debut 20 years ago, than their first round group in Brazil.
'' This is a World Cup tournament and you can't ask for a better scenario than the current group make up. To be fair, there is no excuse for Nigeria not to advance from the preliminary stage. Group F in my opinion is very soft and you cannot ask for a better group than this,'' the former Abia Warriors coach declared.
Nigeria will kick-start her World Cup campaign on June 16 against Iran
in Curitiba and meet debutantes Bosnia and Herzegovina five days later
in Cuiaba.
The Eagles last group fixture is on June 25 against traditional nemesis, Argentina in Porto Alegre.
Ezeugo, who played professional football in India and Hungary, similarly declined to be drawn into debate about the inclusion of certain players in the World Cup squad. He said the decision on those to be selected be left with Keshi.
Keshi is expected to name an interim squad this week but he has been under intense pressure to include Osaze Odemwingie and Ikechukwu Uche in the team.
''The buck stops with Keshi because he is the coach, but I don't expect him to bring sentiment into selection of players. We must go to the World Cup with our best legs''.
The Eagles last group fixture is on June 25 against traditional nemesis, Argentina in Porto Alegre.
Ezeugo, who played professional football in India and Hungary, similarly declined to be drawn into debate about the inclusion of certain players in the World Cup squad. He said the decision on those to be selected be left with Keshi.
Keshi is expected to name an interim squad this week but he has been under intense pressure to include Osaze Odemwingie and Ikechukwu Uche in the team.
''The buck stops with Keshi because he is the coach, but I don't expect him to bring sentiment into selection of players. We must go to the World Cup with our best legs''.
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