Keshi Always In The Bullseye

Victor Ezeji has told supersport.
com that the choice of squad selection by Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, will always draw reactions from different quarters.

The Nigerian league legend was speaking against the backdrop of the Nigerian squad that finished third at the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa.

Keshi has been slammed from several quarters for not picking the best players from the Glo Premier League in Nigeria for the Super Eagles squad at the Chan and Ezeji believes people won't stop complaining no matter which players the Nigerian manager selects for international championships.

But Ezeji acknowledged that though the Nigerian squad had players who did not play regularly in his country's top flight last season, Keshi's team did well after being written off.

He also declared that his worry is that Keshi and his assistants do not watch enough matches in the Nigerian league to monitor performances of players.

"There is no team Keshi will pick that people won't complain, but my worry is that both Keshi and (Daniel) Amokachi don't watch the Premier League games and that's why they had some flaws in picking their team (to the Chan).

Some players were not playing regularly for their respective teams.

"Despite that flaw, for me I think they did so very well because nobody gave them a chance after their first game (against Mali).

Just that when we all had hopes that they can make it then they crashed out," said Ezeji, who was named Glo Premier League Player of the Decade last year by the League Bloggers Awards (LBA).

Ezeji also baulked at the idea of naming a different coaching setup for the Chan in subsequent editions, adding that Keshi and his assistants just needs to "follow the Premier League (matches) week in, week out whenever they are around.

" Ezeji then singled out Ejike Uzoenyi and Kunle Odunlami as capable of breaking into the Super Eagles team for the World Cup but made it clear that "it will be a little bit difficult" for the duo.

"It will be a little bit difficult but I think Odunlami might stand out.

Ejike had a fantastic Chan of course he could make the first team but let's not also forget that he was on that train to the Africa Cup of Nations and didn't make an impact," Ezeji rounded off.

SUPERSPORT