AfCON 2013: Keshi Unveils Final 23-Man Eagles’ Squad… Dike Axed

495Nigeria played an unconvincing goalless draw with Cape Verde Last night in Faro, Portugal. But what is more interesting is shortly after the encounter, Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, finally unveiled his final 23-man list for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Surprisingly, Portland Timberwolves of USA striker, Bright Dike, did not make the cut.

The team which had been camping in Faro for about two weeks under the watchful eyes of Stephen Keshi and his backroom staff, trimmed the number from the initial 32 to 23.

The list includes – Goalkeepers: Ejide Austine, Vincent Enyeama, Chigozie Agbim,

Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Echijile Elderson, Oboabona Godfrey, Efe Ambrose, Egwuekwe Azubuike, Omeruo Kenneth and Oshaniwa Juwon.

Midfielders: Onazi Ogenyi, Ogude Fegor, Reuben Gabriel, Nosa Igiebor, Nwankwo Obiora and Obi Mikel.

Forwards: Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Ikechukwu Uche, Ahmed Musa, Emenike Emmanuel, Victor Moses and Brown Ideye.

Among those dropped by the Big Boss are, Istanbul Büyüksehir Belediyespor of Turkey midfielder, Raheem Lawal, Henry Uche and Benjamin Francis.

Six home-based players were included in the final list, just as 17 players will be making their debut at the fiesta.

6 COMMENTS

  1. D issue z dat i tink we shud 4get tribalism & sentiments, coz (1) only few Yoruba players attended d callup (2) d coach z nt afta where u kum 4rm bt in hw do u play. Hence d inclusion of some home-based players in d team regardless dat dey don’t play in Europe!

  2. This team paraded by keshi does not seem impressive in terms of big names and popularity but I believe that football has passed that stage when u could easily intimidate other teams with names. A team like ivory coast parading some of the finest in the round leather game have failed to deliver in four successive afcon competitions. Am imploring Nigerians to focus more on what the team can do rather than brooding over who was excluded or included.

  3. well am a half ghanian and half nigerian i was born in nigeria by ghanian parents and am presently at the under-17 camp of ghana training i love niaja no matter what but the tribalism is too much we all know that its only few Yoruba players who have impressed in the history of nigerian football we all know that most players are igboes and delta so its better we stop this hulabalu about tribalism and support my super EAGLES.