Super Eagles will officially start its preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday in Abuja as the team commences its camping.
Consequently, the team’s head coach, Stephen Keshi, has invited holidaying Norwegian midfield star, Fegor Ogude, to join the 23 home based players that start the fight for shirts even as the coach insists that players’ form and not name that would be the major determinant in the selection process.
According to Keshi, only players who are on form would make his team to the Nations Cup Championship, next January in South Africa.
Keshi, who is perceived by many to have a selection problem, going by the plethora of options available to him, said that there is no such problem as players will cancel themselves out in the course of camping for the Nations Cup.
“What we want to get is a good mix of players who can help us do well at the Nations Cup, we want to win and I know we can but like I always say names don’t count in football anymore. If you are good enough, come and prove it and you will be on the plane to the Nations Cup,” he said.
“Objectivity is the watchword for selection of players and I promise I will stick to it.”
He added that he and his team would make adequate selection of players for the Nations Cup as he hopes there would be no excuses when the championship starts next month in South Africa.
The Home based named by Keshi are, Chigozie Agbim, Daniel Akpeyi and new call up Femi Thomas of Enyimba FC all goalkeepers.
Defenders are Sunshine duo of captain, Oboabona Godfrey and Kwambe Solomon, Warri Wolves Egwuekwe Azubuike, Kano Pillars duo of Zango Umar and Papa Idris, Benjamin Francis of Heartland and teammate Kalu Orji.
Rangers will contribute four midfielders and they are Uzoenyi Ejike, Mba Sunday, Sunday Chinedu, Emeka Ezeh, while Kano Pillars has three of its players called up. They are Ubale Mannir, Reuben Gabriel and Gambo Mohammed. From Lobi Stars are Bunde Moses and Anthony Okputu with Enyimba supplying only Henry Uchei. There is Onduku Gomo from Sharks, Asuquo Philip from Shooting Stars and Pius Samson from, Ranchers Bees.
The team will abode at the Bolton White Apartment, Zone 7, Abuja on Sunday, December 16, all players and officials are expected at the time and training will effectively starts on Monday, December 17.
The list of foreign based players is expected to be named in the week leading to Christmas, as the team is expected to travel by 27 December for the final phase of its camping in Faro, Portugal.