Keshi: Re-building Eagles the right way?
Before Zambia shocked the continent with its well deserved victory over star studded Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the finals, Sudan had stormed into the quarter finals with a squad made up of entirely home based players. It was a major talking point for those who never knew that Zambia would eventually take the story […]
Before Zambia shocked the continent with its well deserved victory over star studded Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the finals, Sudan had stormed into the quarter finals with a squad made up of entirely home based players. It was a major talking point for those who never knew that Zambia would eventually take the story to the next level.
One thing that has made the triumph of Zambia in the 2012 AFCON very intriguing is the background of the players who shone like a million stars in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. The Chipolopolos are made up of predominately local players with few of them plying their trade in mostly Southern African countries. One of Zambia’s key players, Rainford Kalaba plays his club football with TP Mazembe in Congo Democratic.
As a team made of hitherto unknown stars like Emmanuel Mayuka, nobody gave them a chance but with determination, patriotism, commitment, perseverance, hard work and dint of luck, they conquered all barriers in their path. Instantly, the feat by this Southern Africa country has changed the perception of African nations which believed the key to success lies in their foreign legion.
Such belief among African Nations was so strong that series of disappointments suffered by them did not open their eyes to the reality that names no longer play football. Despite the excruciating pains of securing their foreign based players, nations would always make the highest sacrifice to bring home their ‘messiahs’ whose unpopularity among the home fans had reached a crescendo.
Nigeria is also guilty of the blind loyalty and confidence in foreign based players. When ex-international Samson Siasia was appointed Eagle coach, he promised to re-build the national team around home boys but ended up going back to the same crop of players who failed the nation in the past. He eventually failed to qualify the Nation for AFCON 2012 and was instantly sacrificed by the NFF.
In his place, his former team mate and captain, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was appointed and assigned the task of picking up the pieces for a more formidable national team. On the day he was unveiled, the coach promised to re-build the national team with a promise to give local players a chance to bring back Nigeria’s lost glory in football.
True to his words, Keshi has been re-building the senior national team around the players in the Nigeria Premier League. After several invitations and months of camping in Abuja, the team has three wins and a draw to show for its labour.
Eagles’ latest test of might against the Lone Stars of Liberia in Monrovia on Thursday ended 2-0 in their favour. The victory in Monrovia came in timely because it was recorded a day to when Keshi was to release the list of players for the 2013 AFCON qualifier against Rwanda on February 29.
In fact it was mixed fortunes for the country because the inspiring result against Liberia came on the same day that FIFA’s latest ranking was released and Nigeria found herself in the 56th position in the world and 8th in Africa. This is the country worst ever position on FIFA ranking.
All the same, the home based lad’s victory over the Lone Stars gave them so much bargaining power. In addition, it motivated Nigerian football fans to intensify their clamour for the players to be given more opportunities to enter the mainstream of the Eagles.
Unfortunately, the list of players released on Thursday by Keshi for Rwanda has shown that even as expectations were really high that most of the old brigade would not come back, he has a different plan.
Although the coach did his best to cut down the number of foreign players who in the past would just stroll into camp to displace the home based players, he could not resist the temptation and pressure to bring back some of the Eagles that have consistently failed to deliver. This to many people is like re-building with old wine in new bottle.
A look at the list of foreign players invited for the clash against Rwanda include Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Joel Obi, Dickson Etuhu, Victor Moses, Sani Kaita, Ikechukwu Uche, Osaze Odemwingie, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Ahmed Musa. Most of these players contributed to the consistent decline of Nigeria on FIFA ranking.
Already the list has attracted huge reactions from football pundits. Most of them are of the view that even as the return of players like Ahmed Musa, Joel Obi, Victor Moses, Sani Kaita, Vincent Enyeama and Ikechukwu Uche can be excused, the return of Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Joseph Yobo, Taiye Taiwo, Dickson Etuhu and Osaze Odemwingie cannot help the situation on ground.
According to such critics, a team that is re-building for the future should not expend so much energy on ‘spent forces’. However, some are of the opinion that even if Nigeria is re-building there is need to win matches in order to improve on FIFA ranking as such some experienced Eagles should come in and guide the new players.
Former Super Eagles mid-fielder, Thompson Oliha told SHOT! that the coach is moving in the right direction but having invited the foreign based players, he should provide a level playing field for everyone in camp.
“I am in support of what Keshi is doing. This is exactly what Clemence Westerhof did during his time. He had a mixture of foreign based players and the local players. In the end, it provided a competitive atmosphere.
“If Keshi does not give opportunities to the local players, it means we are not playing professional football in the country. In addition, we should not forget that Nigeria as has dropped to an embarrassing level on FIFA ranking and there is every need to win matches. I appreciate what he is doing. Let every player fight for a shirt”.
Former Secretary General of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Malam Ahmed Sani Toro said Nigerians may not agree with the coach on some of the players invited but he has made the move based on the target set for him by the NFF.
He also said the present position of Nigeria on FIFA ranking is a cause for concern and the coach should be given every support to succeed with the team he is re-building.
“Nigerians may feel disappointed that Keshi has recalled some of the players but he was given a target and he has to meet it. He does not want to gamble. If Nigeria fails again to qualify for the next Nations Cup, he knows what would happen to him.
“For now, I think he should be allowed to use the players he has invited and if in the end there is need for more local players to be drafted into the team, then that can be done. For me if the local players are given forty percent, it will not be a bad idea”.
Former NFF presidential aspirant, Hon. Lumumba Adeh argued that there is nothing wrong with the return of players like Sani Kaita, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Dickson Etuhu as he said there has to be a synergy between the new and the old players.
“Re-building the national team must not be as dramatic as many would wish for. It has to be a gradual process. The younger players need the experience of the older players. If along the line the coach feels comfortable with the local players, he would then cut down on the number of foreign players he invites to his camp.
“We do not need to sacrifice victory on the altar of re-building. As we are re-building, we need to play and win matches. This is the only way Nigeria may come up again on FIFA ranking. I do not see anything wrong with the list”.
All said and done, football crazy Nigerians are trying to come to terms with Eagles position in the latest FIFA ranking. Consequently, the re-building exercise being orchestrated by Keshi will continue to attract even more fierce criticisms but the results of matches to be played by the Eagles would determine whether or not greater attention should be paid to the home boys who are currently the toast of the teeming Nigerian football fans.