After the much-anticipated wait for the list, Sunday Oliseh finally unleashed his 18-man killer squad for Super Eagles of foreign players for the crucial clash against Tanzania in the 2017 African Cup of nations (AFCON) qualifiers next month. A major omissions and inclusions were seen in the list.
The duo of Chelsea players: Mikel Obi and Victor Moses, Watford forward Odion Ighalo and Manchester City enterprising wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho were names missing from the list while erstwhile Super Eagles players; Haruna Lukman, Obiora Nwankwo made their return to the national team.
One of the biggest players missing from the squad is Victor Moses, but the Blues striker is said to be nursing an injury. On his Twitter account Moses confirms nursing a fresh injury.
“Thanks for all of your support and concern, I’m having treatment on a small injury but hopefully will be back very soon,” Moses said on his Twitter account.
Another surprise exclusion is Mikel Obi, but has not been a regular for Chelsea.
Oliseh at his unveiling ceremony said empathically that only players that are regular for their various clubs would make the cut for the national team.
A major name not found on the list for AFCON qualifiers is inform Watford striker Odion Ighalo but, Oliseh has made it clear that the player is in his plans.
The Watford forward’s exclusion from the list of foreign-based professionals for the Eagles game against Tanzania has generated mixed reaction
The 26-year-old was on target in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory against Chad in June, made a goal-scoring debut in the English Premier League in Watford’s 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park.
There was no place for him in the 18-man list of foreign-based pros for the game against the Taifa Stars, and Oliseh, while responding to questions after his first training with the senior team, said Ighalo’s exclusion doesn’t mean he is not in his plans.
“Well, Odion Ighalo is in our plans but for this first game against Tanzania, we are only inviting two players for each position,” Oliseh said.
“We are trying to get competition into positions. It is useless bringing in three professional players for the same position, paying their flight tickets and everything, bringing strikers and not being able to use one or two of them.
“So, in that also we have to take time. Also, I think we have some heavy weights in Emmanuel Emenike and Anthony Ujah for that position and if need be, we might play the two of them.
“But if we want the best in our players we have to give them some respect. Emenike is a Nations Cup winner, a strong player; Ujah scored ten goals in the German League. We are talking about a league that hosts the world champions.
Following the mixed reactions arising from the 18-man squad, Christian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles coach, has charged all football loving Nigerians to respect Oliseh’s choice of invitees for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania in Dar es Salam.
The new Eagles boss left Watford FC, forward, Odion Ighalo, and the duo of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses amongst others in the list of foreign players.
“I sincerely believe that Oliseh might have studied Tanzania’s video clips which informed the list of players he sent to the Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Department before it was finally made public. Let’s see what he makes out of the players he invited,” Chukwu said.
As regards the absence of some star players, the former Eagles captain said that there is no way a coach can satisfy all fans and that the most important thing is victory for Nigeria.
“Let me tell you, there is no list any coach can release that people won’t complain. Any coach that releases a team list, in as much as it’s for the Super Eagles, people will certainly complain.
“But the most important thing is for Oliseh to go ahead with the players he has invited and go to Tanzania and beat them on their soil in Dar es Salam.
“He has just come out with the list so let’s give him a chance and see what stuff he is made of technically.
“Maybe these players he invited will be more committed to the work at hand. So let’s see what he does with them first,” Chukwu said.
The Super Eagles take on the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, September 5th.
Anthony Nlebem
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
