DON'T RELY ON HOME - EAGLES, NIEKETIEN URGES KESHI

Nieketien, who expressed sadness over Nigeria's absence  at the on-going  Nations Cup, advised Keshi to learn from his predecessor Samson Siasia so as not to repeat the same mistakes he made.

He stressed the need for Keshi  to select players who are at their best rather than  banking mainly on  the local-players who he has been working on for  a few weeks now.

According to Nieketien, 'The reality for  us not to be at the on-going  Nation Cup is for us  to prepare very well ahead  of  the 2013 edition in South Africa. I know Keshi has been doing a lot in the building process with  the local players which is good, but then, he should also know that these players are not yet  strong to be exposed in big matches like the qualifiers.  He should not count his chicks before the eggs are hatched.'

He continued thus: 'He should also know that our local players  need time to improve. We can not rely solely on them to beat Rwanda when they couldn't  beat Angola. He should not leave the foreign-based players for local players especially in a competition like the Nations Cup qualifiers. Our foreign players are still relevant no matter what.

Most of them are doing well in their clubs, for instance,  Yakubu Aiyengbeni. If he could be doing well for his team,  why won't he score in the national team. Of course,  I know why it is still  difficult to call him back to the national team. Even at that, it  does not portray him as a bad player.

If Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie and others could  be invited to the national team when they are  not scoring or doing  that well in  their various clubs,  why won't Aiyengbeni  be  recalled  to play for his country. I  still believe that Aiyegbeni  has a lot to contribute to the  national team,' Nieketien stressed.aaa