Utaka, Moses Still First Choice-Keshi …Assures On Mikel, Others Recall

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has denied the report that he plans to drop the duo of Victor Moses and John Utaka from his start list in the African Cup of Nations qualifier against the Wasps of Rwanda on Saturday in Calabar. 

Keshi spoke at the team’s Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel camp in Calabar, during an interactive session with the media on the game, declaring that those who are making such suggestions are inventing news of their own. 

“Victor Moses can score goals, John Utaka can also win games for me, so why should I drop such quality players?. At the moment the entire team might be having scoring difficulties but nobody should invent stories of their own to rubbish what we are doing here”, he said. 

The former Anderletch of Belgium and Strasbourg of France strongman, said he was sure that the team will sooner than later put such speculations about team selections behind it, going by the level of commitment he has seen at training sessions in the run-up to the game against Rwanda’s Amavuvbi. 

On some of the so called big stars that he has left out of his squad in the current qualifiers, Keshi, said they would be called back in due course when needed. “I am in touch with most of the players that the media talks about and they support what we are doing here. 

Just imagine what would have happened if Joseph Yobo was the only experienced central defender that we have in the team, I would have been crucified. But we have close to five other players who can play that wing, though they may not have his experience, we must always have ready replacement for all the wings in the national team. 

“The likes of Mikel, Yakubu, Osaze and many more are in the team and they will be called back in due cause, because they are still relevant and can add up to the quality we have in the team”, he said.