Joseph Dosu insists the Super Eagles won’t miss Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche and  Dynamo Kyiv forward Brown Ideye in this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

The duo missed out on World Cup selection after Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi announced  his 30-man provisional  squad for  the   football’s showpiece  with their names omitted from the list.

Keshi  had  accused  Uche, who has yet to score a goal  for his  Spanish club since  his 12th strike for the Yellow Marines  on January 19, of “tactical indiscipline” and had hinted  that he would leave the  30-year-old out of his World Cup squad. However, Ideye’s omission from the list came as a surprise but former Nigeria goalkeeper Dosu  says although he sympathises with the players, they will not be missed by the Eagles in Brazil.

The Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games gold medallist welcomed the inclusion of Stoke City forward Osaze Odemwingie and on-loan Norwich defender Joseph Yobo  on the list.

“Playing  for the national team  is a matter of getting an opportunity to  play,  and no player is  indispensable,”  the former Julius Berger custodian told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“Uche and Ideye are good players but they  won’t be missed in Brazil because the ones  selected in their place are ready for the challenge.

“They were given the opportunity to play and they took their chance to shine. In fact, every  player on the provisional list  is there because he was given the opportunity to play for the national team.

“There are many good players who have not given the opportunity to prove themselves.”

He added,  “No player is an island. We  won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year without Osaze and other big names.

“Perhaps the  likes of (Ogenyi) Onazi,  Sunday Mba and (Godfrey) Oboabona wouldn’t have been known today if Keshi hadn’t given them the opportunity to play in Africa Cup of Nations.

“It’s a pity that Uche and ideye will not be going to Brazil. Only the coach can explain why he decided to drop them.

“Maybe Keshi decided to leave Ideye out of  his squad because he  has not been scoring goals for his club.” Ideye has scored three league goals in 18 appearances for his Ukrainian side in the season  so far.

Dosu believes Yobo and Osaze’s experience will benefit the Eagles in Brazil, saying “Keshi has made the right decision by recalling them”.

The former Italy-based keeper said, “Osaze has  been  playing well in the Premier League and has scored some fantastic goals for Stoke City.Yobo was also playing well at Norwich until he got injured.

“We need experienced players in the team and I commend Keshi for  bringing them back.”

Dosu added, “I think the coach sat down with his assistants before making his selection.  He has decided to give  some of our best  players  the opportunity to fight for their place  and I don’t think he’ll find it easy picking his final squad.

“Yes, some people will complain about the omission of certain players from the list. But no list is ever complete. We should respect the coach’s decision because it’s not an easy task.

“The players dropped should take it easy because it’s not the end of the world.  The World Cup in Brazil is not the end of the competition. We have the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and they could be invited.”

The retired footballer  hailed Keshi for keeping faith with   Mba, despite  the midfielder plying his trade in the French second division  side CA Bastia.

-Punch