May 18, 2012  by Kazeem Busari 15 Comments

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has unexpectedly left out Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi and other English Premier League players, except for Wigan’s Victor Moses, out of the team that will face Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda in the 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June.

Keshi, on Thursday, named 11 Europe-based professionals that will join 18 of the 22 home-based players listed to play the May 23 friendly with Peru.

Fenerbahce’s Joseph Yobo, who is recuperating from an injury, top the list just as Montpellier’s John Utaka and Rangers’ Sone Aluko made a return to the Eagles.

Others on the list are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, Elderson Echiejile of FC Braga, Efe Ambrose of Ashdod MS, Valerenga’s Fegor Ogude, CSKA’s Ahmed Musa and Ikechukwu Uche of Granada.

Keshi explained to journalists that Mikel, who will be featuring in Chelsea’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Saturday, is still in his plans as he makes effort to rebuild the Eagles.

“Mikel is in my plans but we will give other players the opportunity as well,” Keshi said.

“We need to give players from the local league a chance. After all, how many (people) knew about such players as Uche Kalu, Ejike Uzoenyi or Godfrey Oboabona before now?

“The other excluded players are Nigerians and they have played their part very well and may still be called any moment to don the national colours but for now we want to try out the ones that we have named today and see how well they can help the course of our national team.”

Yobo’s injury scare was allayed. The Eagles captain sustained the injury in a Cup game on Wednesday but an assurance from the Turkish club meant the former Everton defender will be available before the June encounters.

Keshi said a final decision will be taken when the medics put Yobo through thorough medical checkup.

“After that I can say whether he would be ready or not, but we have replacements as always. I want all my players (to be) in good health whether they are called to play now or in the future,” Keshi said.

-Punch

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