Punch Keshi invites Uche, snubs Martins, Moses November 1, 2014 by Festus Abu Ikechukwu Uche Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche has made a sensational return to the national team after he was named in the 25-man squad to face Congo and South Africa in the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi on Friday. But Keshi, who also made a sensational comeback to the Super Eagles on Friday after he was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation after guiding Nigeria to a 3-1 defeat of Sudan in their Morocco 2015 qualifier in Abuja on October 15, omitted in-form Seattle Sounders striker and on-loan Stoke City winger Victor Moses from the list. He also dropped Israel-based Nosa Igiebor. Spain-based Uche has been in the international wilderness for nearly two years after Keshi refused to invite the 30-year-old, who helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year. Keshi, who claimed the former Real Zaragoza star lacked “tactical discipline”, stuck to his guns to exclude Uche from his 23-man squad from last summer World Cup in Brazil, in spite of the pressure mounted on him from some quarters to take the player to the tournament. The former Nigeria captain only gave Martins an opportunity to play in the World Cup qualifier against Kenya last year. When the former Inter Milan underperformed, Keshi refused to invite him. But there has been a renewed clamour for Martins’ return to the national team following the Eagles’ poor start to the Morocco 2015 qualifiers, but Keshi has snubbed him again. Martins has scored 17 goals and made 13 assists in the MLS helping the American side win the Supporters’ Shield and US Open Cup title. Moses has not been invited for any of the four qualifying games and he was again omitted from the list for the fixtures against Congo and South Africa, despite his impressive form at Stoke. Nigeria need to win the games against Congo in Pointe-Noire on November 15 and South Africa in Uyo four days later – hoping the Congolese drop points against Sudan – to stand any chance of defending their title in Morocco. However, Keshi has kept faith with majority of the players who have been part of the the qualifiers. Captain Vincent Enyeama tops the list consisting of Godfrey Oboabona, Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Ogenyi Onazi, Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Austin Ejide, Gbolahan Salami and Juwon Oshaniwa. Also on the list are Hope Akpan, Raheem Lawal, Sone Aluko and Osaguona Ighodaro. Meanwhile, Nigeria ’80 Africa Cup of Nations winner Henry Nwosu commended the NFF for the decision to reinstate his former Eagles’ teammate Keshi. And Nwosu praised Keshi for inviting Uche to the national team and backed the player to perform in the qualifiers. “I protested the removal of Keshi and I said that appointing another coach (Shaibu Amodu) to take over from him with two games left was not in the interest of the country,” the former New Nigeria Bank midfielder told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday. “I have been vindicated. I’m happy with the decision to reinstate Keshi. “Uche is a Nigerian and he’s welcome to the national team. I support Keshi’s decision to invite him since he feels the player still has something to offer the country.”
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 11:19:18 +0000
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