Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi,
says he will not miss any player who did not make the team’s provisional list
for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Keshi disclosed this in an interview on
Sunday in Abuja, in reaction to the barrage of criticisms which have trailed
his list of 32 invited players.
The list was for the final phase of camping
in Faro, Portugal for the competition, scheduled to kick off on Jan. 19 in
South Africa.
According to Keshi, the omission of the
likes of Osaze Odemwingie and Taye Taiwo was not intentional, but for the good
of the country.
“We don’t need Osaze right now; that is
all.
“He is not a bad player and there is
nothing personal about it. It is just that at this point in time, there are
some players that were not called and we don’t have anything against them.
“We also did not invite Obafemi Martins,
why are Nigerians not talking about him?
“These players are not the only Nigerians
playing; this is what we want for now.
“All we want for now from Nigerians is to
support the players that are there in prayers,” Keshi said.
The former Togo and Mali coach added that
Martins was not in the list because he did not live up to expectation when he
was given the opportunity to prove his worth in the new Eagles squad.
Keshi pointed out that he was more comfortable
dealing with the players he was familiar with.