EAGLES NEED MIKEL, OSAZE – NFF CHIEF WARNS

Osaze Odemwingie

A MEMBER of the NFF technical committee Austel Emelelu has asked for top stars like Mikel Obi and Osaze Odemwingie to be recalled by the Eagles. Chelsea star Mikel, Odemwingie as well as Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor and Yakubu Aiyegbeni were left out of last month’s qualifiers by coach Stephen Keshi. 

Instead, Keshi worked with players from the Nigeria Premier League as the core of his team. “Despite the results we recorded against Malawi, Rwanda and Namibia last month, we will still need the experience of players like Mikel, Osaze, Emenike, Nosa Igiebor and Fengor Ogude in our next match,” said Emelelu. 

Emelelu’s position is shared by former international Jonathan Akpoborie. "It won't be an easy game against Liberia, but Nigeria can win if the right team is chosen,” the outspoken Akpoborie told MTNFootball.com 

“The Eagles coach should involve more foreign-based players in the game because it is a winner-takes-all situation. “And Liberia have beaten Nigeria before and there are no minnows again as far as football is concerned. 

‘Keshi knows what I am saying and he knows that we have to be at the next Nations Cup." 

Keshi himself has maintained that these players remain in his plans. In September, the Eagles will take on Liberia in Monrovia in the first leg qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, with the return leg slated for October in Nigeria.