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World Cup Selection: Keshi Vows To Be Fair, Says ” Yobo Is Still Captain”

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi says none of the 30 players on the provisional World Cup list released last Tuesday is guaranteed a shirt at the World Cup.

Keshi said any of the invited players can still be dropped, boasting that all the players know he is not sentimental when it comes to picking his team.

”I don’t look at what you have done in the past and discipline plus the right team ethic is key to selection,” Keshi said.

The former Mali and Togo coach also spoke on the inclusion of players like Chigozie Agbim, injured Uche Nwanfor, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Elderson Echiejile in his provisional list.

“Agbim is a good keeper. That he did not have the best tournament at the CHAN does not make him a bad goalie overnight.  Basically, I stuck with the goalkeepers I have been using since I took over in 2011. Daniel Akpeyi is a good young keeper and we want to see what he can do,” revealed the Eagles supremo.

On Echejile, the 2013 Africa Best Coach said: “First things first; Echiejile only made the provisional list. There is no guarantee that he will make the final list. The same applies for all the other 29 players called up.

“Having said that, I will not pretend that I do not know he’s not been playing regularly at Monaco. It does not mean he’s lacking in ability.

“Even when I was still playing, there were times when I did not play for my club for non-sporting reasons. There are a lot of things that happen that so many fans are not aware of.

“The good thing is that we still have a series of friendly matches to play before the World Cup begins next month and we hope it will get the players in the right shape before then,” he said.

Keshi also explained why he recalled two senior members of the team, Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie, who infamously previously fell out publicly with him.

“You know when he wasn’t playing; I was asked a lot of questions by so many journalists about this subject.

“I told them then that Yobo was still in my plans but some people felt I was merely telling half truths. Now it is clear that I was saying the truth all along.

“He was injured but I have been informed that he’s bounced back. We are glad to have him back.”

The former Super Eagles captain also dismissed speculations that Yobo might not be reinstated as team skipper on his return to the national team.

“No, there is no decision to make as long as Yobo makes the final list. If he does, he will be captain. First, however, he will have to prove himself and fight for a shirt just like all the others called up. He’s the most experienced player called up.”

Keshi asked Nigeria’s who have their reservations about the recall of Odemwingie to keep their peace just yet.

“We (Odemwingie and Keshi) had a heart-to-heart chat about what we want to achieve with the team in Brazil. He’s always been a hard worker. I don’t know what happened to him in the past but we will leave that in the past.

“I will see how he conducts himself when the camp open before I make my final decision.

“I want to state here that Osaze (Odemwingie) has not yet made the final list to Brazil. I have a 30-man list and will drop anyone who does not conform to the ideas that I have for the team,” he said as a matter of fact.