Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze has questioned the Super Eagles 39-man provisional list ahead of this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
On Tuesday, new head coach Eric Chelle unveiled his first list as the Eagles look to get their qualifying campaign back on track.
However, eyebrows were raised over the large number of players invited for the double header billed for March 21st (against Rwanda) and 25th (against Zimbabwe).
Reacting to the provisional list, Udeze said this is not the time for Chelle to know all the players.
“There are better ways to go about it but 39 is too much, this is not the time to know everybody,” Udeze said on Brila FM.
The Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup star questioned the invitation to certain players.
“I don’t know why some players made the list, during my time in the Super Eagles I never saw this kind of invitation. This is not the time to gamble or to experiment.”
Among the players who made the cut are Victor Osimhen, African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Wilfred Ndidi and Samuel Chukwueze.
Others also invited are Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Cyriel Dessers, Chidera Ejuke, Nathan Tella, Umar Sadiq, Alhassan Yusuf, Raphael Onyedika, Zaidu Sanusi and Paul Onuachu.
The quartet of Ahmed Musa, Joe Aribo, Adeleye Adebayo, Jordan Torunarigha are making a return while Igoh Ogbu, Christantus Uche, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare and Anthony Dennis earned first call-ups.
Also three Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) stars Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars) Papa Daniel (Niger Tornadoes) and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers).
9 Comments
I beg leave the man to do his job. Must you talk!
NIGERIA WE BRING AND TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT STRIKERS…WE DON’T HAVE STRIKERS PROBLEM..BUT MIDFIELD AND DEFENSE, SPECIALLY MIDFIELD IF VERY GOOD WE CAN WIN ALL OUR MATCHES.
TO ME, THE 39-MAN LIST IS NOT TWO MUCH. IT IS STILL GOING TO PRUNE DOWN TO 23-MAN LIST.
THE REASON BEHIND THIS, IS TO AVOID LATE REPLACEMENT IN CASE OF ANY SUDDEN INJURY BEFORE THE MAIN CAMP OPEN, DURING THE TRAINING BEFORE THE FIRST MATCH & ALSO BEFORE THE SECOND MATCH.
***MY ADVICE FOR ERIC CHELLE TO BE JUSTIFY IN HIS INVITATION OF PLAYERS, IS TO FORGET ABOUT USELESS EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP, CAPTAINSHIP, MENTORSHIP, AGING, EGO, RECORD OR PAST FORM.
** And use quality, potential, fighting, aggressiveness, determination as a criteria in selecting is final 23-man list***
#### MY BEST 23- MAN SQUAD ARE FOLLOWING base on potential , quality####
1 . NWAKALI –ADELEYE– OBASOGIE
2. AINA –OSAYI
3. BRUNO — JORDAN
4. ONYEDIKA — ONYEKA
5. BASSEY — OSHO
6. TROOST EKONG — OGBOR
7. LOOKMAN —MUSA
8. DESSERS. —TELLA
9. OSIMHEN — AKODARE
10. IWOBI — BASIRU
11. SIMON — EJUKE
The coach knows what’s doing he will select 23man best players
I AM ASKING IS ALHASSAN YUSUF REALLY A GOOD PLAYER?I WATCHED HIM IN AFCONS BUT DON’T LIKE IS WAY.
In my opinion, if Eric chelle is serious about qualifying then the 1st 11 needs to be very strong. The fact that we have to win games means he can not afford to start ekong in a back 3 where he thrives but a back 4 that most likely include bruno, bassey, igoh obu and aina. These center halves will complement themselves quite well. Ogbu is quite skilled in passing, both are quick and strong but Ogbu is good in the air .
In the midfield, he needs to opt for an energetic midfield mixed with experience and youthful exuberance. He might want to consider onyedika, chrisantus and iwobi. The wings will include lookman and chukwueze. Osimhen leads the attack. In goal, I will go with amas due to the dip in form of nwabali.
Udeze you are not the coach.Leave this coach alone
We just need to win those games. No stories.
I wonder what an injured dele bashiru is doing in that list and don’t get me started on out of form stars like chukweze and iheanacho.