Yobo in Eagles plan, says Keshi

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (CFR), has debunked claims making the rounds that he has foreclosed the issue of team skipper, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, returning to the team, insisting that Yobo will sooner than later be back in the squad.

[caption id="attachment_206538" align="alignleft" width="240"] Yobo[/caption]

Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes the coach as saying he never spoke to any media organization regarding the return to the national team or otherwise of Yobo in Abidjan during the Eagles CHAN qualifier against the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

“He is like a younger brother to me and I want the best for him but there seems to be a desperate bid to create a war between me and my captain and I will always reject that because he remains one of Nigeria’s big football players and we cannot rush him out just like that”, Keshi said

The Eagles boss declared that there are issues he is always misquoted out of context about. “When I speak about the NFF, it’s convenient for people to misquote me, to create crisis between me and my employers but I had never had any problem with them and they have said so.

“The Aminu Maigari led NFF board has been more than supportive of the team we have on ground and nobody should say otherwise just to create sensation. There are channels of communications in the NFF and the Super Eagles and if information do not come though those channels they should be disregarded”.

Ameobi fit, healthy for Mandela - Keshi

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said that Newcastle striker, Shola Ameobi is healthy and fit for next month’s Mandela Challenge in South Africa, despite media reports to the contrary.

Keshi who put a call to the experienced attacker to find out the true situation of things when the reports broke out on Sunday,   was told by Ameobi that he had only a knock on the arm and he would be ready for the friendly against Bafana Bafana.

[caption id="attachment_405091" align="alignleft" width="250"] Shola Ameobi[/caption]

“I have spoken to Shola and the guy is fit and healthy and will be available for the Mandela Challenge. He told me so himself, so any other news to the contrary I don’t believe”.

The Eagles resumed their preparations for the second leg tie against Cote D’ Ivoire in Abuja on Monday evening with the coaching crew concentrating on shooting and accuracy in front of goal.

In the course of the session, top striker Gambo Mohammed and Elkanemi’s Haruna Babalo both had knocks and were asked to sit out half of the session so as to quickly recover for Tuesday’s test game against TEAP FC of Abuja.

The medical crew has already said there is nothing to worry about but precautions must be taken not to aggravate any knock on any player as the d-day draws near for the crucial return leg against the Elephants of Cote ‘Ivoire in Abidjan.

It will not be fair to invite Yobo, bench him - Keshi

Emenike returns

Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has said Fernabahce of Turkey star defender, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, remains the national team skipper, even if he has not been in constant contact with him recently.

Also after four months injury lay off, Emmanuel Emenike is back playing in the Russian league. The Nigerian came on for Spartak Moscow in the 66th minute to replace Yura Movsisyan on on the opening day of the Russia Premier League at the Stadion Metallurg home of Krylya Sovetov.

[caption id="attachment_375279" align="alignnone" width="412"] Coach Stephen Keshi and Captain Joseph Yobo.[/caption]

Speaking at a media interaction at the team’s Bolton White Apartments camp in Abuja on Wednesday, Keshi said he has a lot of respect for Yobo because of what he has done for the nation and cannot invite him to the team only to put him on the bench.

“It will not be fair to invite Yobo to the national team and ask him to be on the bench, it will be a huge disgrace and I won’t be part of that. When the team needs him he will be recalled and will definitely start as captain even if along the line we substitute him”.

Keshi used the opportunity to praise the proactive manner the Nigeria Football Federation have been handling affairs of the national players despite its lean financial situation and thanked the Aminu Maigari led board for their hardwork.

He called for more support for the NFF so that they can meet their obligations to all the national teams and declared that all the players who have not been invited in the current squad still have an opportunity to be part of the team