MTNFootball.com lists 10 players who Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi should give a second look-in in his team.
10. Michael Eneramo Sivasspor striker
Eneramo has been a prolific goal scorer wherever he has played. The 27-year-old is currently one of the best African scorers in the Turkish top flight with eight goals in the league and five in the Turkish Cup. The former Esperance of Tunisia skipper is a bull on the pitch. He is a powerful striker who uses his strength and pace to outwit opponents. First capped by Nigeria in 2009, he has scored four goals in 10 caps for Nigeria. He last played for the Eagles in September 2011.
9. Chinedu Obasi Schalke 04 striker
Top-class striker on his day, but lately he has struggled with injuries which has limited his appearances for his German Bundesliga outfit. At 26 he still has age on his side and can play as a second striker and as a right winger. Once he can establish himself at his club, he could again be given another chance with the national team.
8. Victor Nsofor Obinna Lokomotiv Moscow striker
Nsofor is a versatile forward who is known for scoring important goals for the Super Eagles. Injury and his form at his struggling Russian club have combined to keep him out of the international team for over a year now. He is forceful and direct when he is fit. He has yet to get his chance under Keshi and so he should be recalled.
7. Onyekachi Apam Rennes defender
Onyekachi Apam is a defender of great quality but injury has limited him in the last two years. Apam is always rock solid in the heart of the defence or as right back. He has proved himself at U20 and Olympic team levels and was recently considered for a return to the Super Eagles only to be stopped by injury. He is always calm, rugged and great tackler. With the impending exit of skipper Joseph Yobo from the international stage, there is need for extra cover at the heart of the back four and this 26-year-old could provide it.
6. Kalu Uche Kasimpasa midfielder or striker
He is another proven goal scorer with Nigerian blood running through him. He currently stars for Kasimpasa in Turkish top flight, where he is the team’s top scorer and second top scorer in the league with 12 goals. His versatility is an advantage to the Eagles as he could play as a point man, supporting striker and as an attacking midfielder. Uche was Nigeria best player at the 2010 World Cup after he made his long-awaited debut on 21 June 2003, in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola, scoring in the process.
5. Raheem Lawal Mersin Idmanyurdu midfielder
He is an all round midfielder with power and skills. The former 36 Lion of Lagos player is a good tackler, passer
and dribbler. He also has a good vision for goals with long range shots. He was an important player for Adana Demirspor before he was bought over by Mersin İdmanyurdu in the Turkish top flight. He was a surprise omission to the 2013 Nations Cup, but should now be recalled to stake another claim in this squad.
4.Obafemi Martins Levante striker
Obafemi Martins has proved himself again in the Spanish La Liga with Levante since his transfer in the summer from Russian club Rubin Kazan – He has fired eight goals in 19 matches thus far. He could not take his second chance in a friendly against Venezuela in November, but that does not mean he cannot still add bite to the Eagles strike force even if it means coming off the bench to do so. He is an experienced player as he has featured in three Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008 and 2010, and in the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
3.Joel Obi Inter Milan midfielder
Enterprising defensive midfielder with a sweet left foot. His industry in the middle of the park will be invaluable to the Super Eagles once he is over his injury problems. He posted a five-star debut performance against Sierra Leone two years ago and a lot was expected of him before his injury problems set in.
2.Sidney Sam Bayer Leverkusen winger or striker
Sidney Sam is a versatile player who could play as a winger or a striker. Born in Germany, he has decided to feature for Nigeria as a full international after he represented Germany at U19, U20 and U21 levels. Good enough Nigeria have begun processing his papers for this switch. He scores goals – 16 goals in 58 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen – and has pace to burn on the wings and so will be a valuable addition to Keshi’s squad.
1.Victor Anichebe Everton striker
An imposing, bullish striker with great power and pace, who could also feature on the right side of midfield as well as a supporting striker. He could become a key star for club and country if only he could stay away from the treatment table. The 24-year-old striker is the younger version of Emmanuel Emenike after he made full international debut for Nigeria in a friendly against Austria in May 2008. He would most certainly be a fantastic addition to the Eagles attack. He already has 11 caps and a goal.
I have 50 players in the Eagles of my dream – Stephen Keshi
Since he led Nigeria to win its third African Nations Cup title in the just concluded South Africa 2013 edition of the competition, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has been the toast of all Nigerians, including those critics, who never gave his team any chance of success at the continental fiesta.
Now a Commander Order of the Niger (CON), a honour bestowed on him by the Federal Government, Keshi has already started looking ahead to the challenges ahead, including the FIFA Confederation Cup, which holds in June in Brazil, the World Cup qualifier against Kenya and the African Nations Championship qualifier against perennial foes, Cote d’Ivoire, which also comes up in June, among other competitions.
Keshi said: “We are still building the team and by God’s grace we will get the team of our dream very soon.”
He added: “After the last game in South Africa, I sat down with my coaches to list some other players we need to give the chance to come into the squad.
“I have a list of 50 players I can call upon at any time, but we need patience and support from everybody. Martins, Osaze, Anichebe and others are still relevant in the team; they will get their chance to play unless they choose to stay away.”
He added: “I think we have not qualified for CHAN since its inception because we have not taken it seriously. We need to identify the home-based players and train them to get ready for the challenges. We will ensure we prepare well for our qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire before we go to Brazil for the Confederations Cup.”
Keshi expects every Nigerian to support his team at all times because that is the only way to build confidence in the team.
“I cannot assure Nigerians that we will not lose any game, but I want to assure them that we will be prepared for every game. We will win some and lose some, but we are prepared to learn from every game,” he surmised.
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