Coach Stephen Keshi revealed his preliminary
32-man list of players that will go into closed camping for the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations Cup tournament that will kick-off in South Africa
on January 19 and some 'Big Names' did not make the list.
Peter Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins and Taye Taiwo have sensationally
been dropped from the list of players that will be vying to be part of
the 23-man team that will be going to South Africa in January.West Brom striker Osaze Odemwingie who has been left out of Nigeria’s team to the 2013 Africa Nations Cup has reacted angrily to his exclusion lashing out at Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation. The Nigerian spent time on Sunday on social network Twitter giving his own story and attacking anyone perceived to have played a role in his being cut from the team.
Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins and Taye
Taiwo were some of the significant names left out of the 32-man squad
listed for the final camping in Faro, Portugal.
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| PETER OSAZE ODEMWINGIE |
The Nigerian striker expressed disgust
at having to learn of his non-inclusion through the media, insisting it
showed lack of professionalism. He maintained that Keshi lied on the
reasons given for his exclusion and fingered what he described as other
reasons outside the game of football.
“Keshi has no footballing reasons not to
invite me but is not saying the truth. He is still in my plans he said
haha coach u no dey my plans.
“On my non-inclusion to the Eagles list I
am not surprised. Not surprised Keshi and NFF couldn’t tell me
themselves. No personality!
“We talk through press hahaha how come I
am the only stubborn one but no ex-Eagles player was sent off from the
team with respect? This is all a comedy and our poor fans are being fed
with lies while they cutting the cake for themselves.”
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| Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi |
“I
am arrogant? Why did country’s president threaten to close down our
federation for two years?”
“Nff member just called me. Of cos got insulted. I told him I sang national anthem for ten years to be treated like this.”
In one of the several tweets Osaze
complained that the national team has not had “a real captain” for many
years and suggesting that it had effect on the team.
He said, “This might sound disrespectful but Eagles had no good captain for many years. Everyone looking only after himself.”
Osaze did not limit his outbursts to Keshi as he also dared any other challenger.
He said, “To some who wanna put mouth
here please act like men. When two men talk 3rd has nothing to do. So
Ikpebas and the rest talk to me face2face.”
The Eagles striker who has had several
clashes over the years with different national coaches went down the
memory lane as he explained all that transpired between him and a former
Eagles coach Samson Siasia and Lars Lagerback. He alleged that Siasia
dropped him because he did not endorse him for the Eagles top job.
He wrote, “Cos after we got Olympic silver I didn’t say Siasia is ready for Eagles he waited till he gets the job to axe me?
“Me and Apam begged him to take (Sani)
Kaita in the Olympic team. He told us he wants to play Efe Ambrose there
who is a centre back? Good plan. The only reason me and Siasia fell out
was over kits that were not enough ‘cos they were on sale as the
Olympics were on going. Shame!
“West Bromwich Albion needed me back for an important game and Siasia refused to let me miss a midweek friendly game?
“Why didn’t Lagerback continue with Super Eagles after World Cup? Chop and run was his plan and they knew it.”
Now we await a reply from the NFF or coach stephen Keshi... but seriously, was it worth making statements like this, afterall, Osaze played just a friendly game under keshi and hasn't honored any invitation from the man called the 'Big Boss'. Let's take a look at the names on the 32 man list submitted by keshi on the 21st of December.
Goalkeepers
Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC, Nigeria)
Defenders
Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC, Nigeria); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Danny Shittu (Millwall FC, England); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)
Midfielders
Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Raheem Lawal (Adana Demirspor, Turkey); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria); Rabiu Ibrahim (Celtic FC, Scotland)
Forwards
Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Uche Kalu (Rizespor, Turkey); Bright Dike (Portland Timbers, USA); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle FC, England); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)
There is no reason under the football planet while Osaze and Martins should not be at least included in the preliminary list. Keshi did not show he has something to offer to Nigeria with this list especially in the area of attackers. It is only Ikechukwu Uche that is a potent striker in this list and this may create a problem for Nigeria in the Nation's cup. NFF must do something urgently to bring these guys into this team if they hope of making any impart in the nation cup.
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