Another ‘Mba’ set to unseat Mikel?

The invitation of 24 home-based players to the camp of the Super Eagles by the 2013 AFCON-winning coach, Stephen Keshi is seen another opportunity for the players plying their trade in the country’s league.

African Cup of Nations, AFCON winning coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi last week invited 24 home-based players to camp of the Super Eagles ahead of the crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification in Calabar, Cross River state.

Chibuzor Okonkwo

The players picked mainly from the Nigeria Premier League, NPL are expected to form part of the squad that will take on the Harambee Stars of Kenya on March 23, 2013 at the U.J. Usuene stadium, Calabar.

AFCON winners: Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona, Chigozie Agbim, Reuben Gabriel are some of the home-based players to contest for shirts in the Keshi's first game since the triumph in South Africa.

Keshi was quoted as saying: “I am expecting 24 home-based players in Abuja for camping to kick start our preparation for this month’s World Cup qualifier against Kenya which is a very crucial match.

“Most of the players that make up the 24-man list are those that have been in the team before. So I decided to recall them to see what they can do because as I said earlier, we are still rebuilding the team and we are going to give ‘new’ players the opportunity to show what they can do. We just want to see whether they will come out good.”

Keshi, who is bent on building a formidable team that can compete against any country in the world, said he can now boast of having a blend of young, competent and reliable players who can give everything for their country. “Yes, we have a team now. At least 80 per cent of what I want I have gotten.”

Action from the Nigerian league

Some of the invited players are: Goalkeepers - Chigozie Agbim, Rangers; Daniel Akpeyi, Heartland and Dele Ajiboye, 3SC. Defenders - Azubuike Egwueke, Warri Wolves; Papa Idrisse, Kano Pillars; Godfrey Oboabona, Sunshine Stars; Benjamin Francis, Heartland; Solomon Kwambe, Heartland; Chibuzor Okonkwo, Rangers; Ezekiel Bassey, Lobi Stars; Mohammed Zubaru, Niger Tornadoes and Umar Zango, Kano Pillars;

Midfielders & Forwards are: Reuben Gabriel, Kano Pillars; Gomo Ohanduku, Sharks; Mannir Ubale, Kano Pillars; Sunday Mba, Warri Wolves; Gambo Muhammed, Kano Pillars; Pius Samson, Ranchers Bees; Obinna Nwanchukwu, Heartland; Saka Ayo, Enyimba; Jiya Muhammed, Bayelsa FC; Emeka Ezeh, Rangers; Anthony Okputu, Lobi Stars and Adepoju Taofeek, 3SC

Soccer analysts see the invitation of the 24-man list as extending the olive branch to the players plying their trade in the country’s league.

They believe that this is an opportunity for players like Chibuzor Okonkwo, Papa Idrisse, Solomon Kwambe, Adepoju Taofeek including Dele Ajiboye to grab the national team shirts with both hands, having lace their boots for the different national teams on several occasions.

Dele Ajiboye, who shone like a million star in the Golden Eaglets and won the U-17 World Cup in South Korea, is expected to replicate that performance in the Super Eagles or furthermore, correct the feat he churned out in the U-23 team where he performed woefully.

Latest revelation, Sunday Mba

For Daniel Akpeyi, this is the time to prove to the world that his omission from the recent AFCON victory in South Africa was a mistake. He was denied the prospect of featuring for his first ever African Nations Cup despite the injury to first choice goalkeeper, Austin Ejide in a friendly match against Cape Verde. It is also left for him to see how he can grab the third position from his counterpart in the NPL, Chigozie Agbim.

Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi, was expected to release the list of foreign-based players on March 7, 2013 but the misunderstanding between the NFF and the coach stalled the release. Keshi was accused of releasing the list of home-based players without the approval of the NFF Technical Committee.

A member of the technical committee, Paul Bassey said in a radio interview that Keshi did not go through the process of submitting the list to them to go through the list.

It would be recalled that the list was released by Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya instead of the NFF media officer, Ademola Olajire.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles currently top Group F of their World Cup qualifying group slated for Brazil with four points from two games. A 1-0 victory against Namibia in Calabar and another 1-1 draw against Malawi in Blantyre put the reigning African champions in pole position.

Super Eagles will also confront Mexico in a friendly match shortly after the Kenyan match. There are indications that most of the home-based players will be used to prosecute the friendly match to know who can fit in into the main team. It will be a platform for some of the home-based boys to further prove their abilities and grab shirts from their foreign counterparts.

The home-based players also have opportunity of featuring in the FIFA Confederations Cup in June where Nigeria will represent Africa as the continent’s reigning champion.

Nigeria will play Oceanian champions Tahiti, South American overlords Uruguay and World and European champions Spain at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June.