Keshi Drops Nine Football Players.

Ahead of this weekend African Nations Cup qualifier, Head Coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has dropped Kano Pillars central defender, Papa Idris alongside eight football players.

Idris along with eight others were dropped after lunch on Saturday, with Keshi assuring them that they should not be dejected as they would soon be recalled when the team returns from Liberia.

Other affected football players are, the duo of Heartland of Owerri, Benjamin Francis and Kabiru Umar, Saviour Fidelis of Taraba FC, Rising Stars, Henry Ezekiel, Christian Ofili of ABS Fc, Chibuzor Onyekwelu of Fame fc, Femi Ajayi of Crown FC and Rangers International’s Ogochukwu Ugonna.

 “Just ensure that all you learnt here is not wasted and continue to feature regularly for your club side, so that we will have reasons to recall you. Many of those who are here with us now have been dropped and recalled several times”, he admonished the departing players.

The players have since left the Bolton White Apartment of the team, as the 10 Europe based players invited are expected to start arriving Nigeria from Sunday evening. Earlier on Saturday, the national team defeated a highly impressive, Abuja Football College 4-1, with Keshi describing the amateur side as one of the best sides his team has played against of recent.

 The highly entertaining encounter played under rains at the Abuja FIFA Goal Project saw the Eagles forced to some desperate defending in the early part of the encounter.

Theophilus Solomon, Mark Tanko. Collins Jamilu and Philip Ikeocha, gave the national team food for thought with their organizational play and precision passes.

Sunday Mba, however brought experience to bear, when he raced clear to tap home the first goal after Ajayi and Sani Sanusi had ran the Academy side’s defence ragged. This was in the 17th minute and it was the only goal of the half.

Ajayi added a second in the 50th minute, after Juwon Oshaniwa powerful run from the left. Then there was a momentary loss of concentration by Philip Asuquo which gifted the youthful side a goal five minutes later through the hard working Theophilus Solomon in the 55th minute.

The 3SC schemer was to make up for the error by having a hand in the last two goals of the national team both of them scored by Fidelis Saviour in the 65th and 75th minutes.

Keshi said after the encounter that he was impressed by the opposition’s organizational abilities, declaring that his side benefitted from the game.

 Croatian Coach of the side, Bozidar Matjevic, said the Eagles did not play well in the first half but upped their game in the second with flawless passes.

“If they continue like that they can defeat any team in the world, but they have to start early to take their chances”, he said.