Keshi faces selection headache ahead of the World Cup

The Super Eagles booked their ticket to the 2014 Fifa World Cup with a 4-1 aggregate win over the Walia Antelopes of Ethiopia in Calabar. Attention will now be switched to preparing and making a big impression on football’s grandest stage in Brazil. It was an arduous qualification campaign and after all these months of fielding several players, Nigeria head coach Stephen Keshi should have a mental composition of his squad by now. A raft of players were invited for the lengthy but worthwhile journey to the showpiece event and some have impressed while others are not likely to be on that flight to South America next summer. The sure bets to be in the squad include the three goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim. Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose and Uwa Echiejile look set to be the fulcrum of the Eagles defence while Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike will certainly keep their place in the 23-man squad barring injuries.

Players like Brown Ideye and Ahmed Musa are important cogs in the reigning African champions’ team but the inconsistency in their recent display leaves room for marked improvement or even replacements if/when available. Also, John Ogu, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Sunday Mba, Nosa Igiebor, Victor Obinna and Nnamdi Oduamadi have shown glimpses of brilliance, but a recall to the team for Joseph Yobo, Kalu Uche, Ikechukwu Uche, Reuben Gabriel, Osaze Odemwingie & Obafemi Martins should provide stiff competition. The national team is still very much a work in progress as we saw against the Ethiopians. The Eagles found it difficult to kill off the game in the second half with the attacking quartet of Emenike, Ideye, Musa and Moses struggling to get the better of the opposing defence with their final pass always lacking a cutting edge.


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