John Mikel Obi
Emeka Ezeugo has expressed his desire to see Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche, Victor Moses and Efe Ambrose back in Nigeria’s lineup again.
The Super Eagles got off their Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign to a blistering start with a 2-0 defeat of Chad at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna last Saturday, with the five players omitted from the squad for the encounter.
Nigeria are pitted against record seventh-time champions Egypt, Tanzania and Chad in Group G of the Gabon 2017 qualifying series.
The Eagles, who missed out on a place in the 2015 tournament in Equatorial Guinea, travel to Tanzania on September 5 to face the Taifa Stars – and host Egypt on March 23, 2016.
The Eagles struggled for creativity to break down a resilient Chadian side for 62 minutes until Warri Wolves forward Gbolahan Salami hit the back of the net in the 63rd minute. Watford sensation Odion Ighalo converted a penalty for the second goal to put the game beyond Les Sao.
And former Nigeria midfielder Ezeugo, who hailed the Eagles’ winning start to their Gabon 2017 qualifiers, believes the three-time African champions can win all their games.
The former Denmark-based player lavished praise on Anderson Esiti and Kingsley Madu, saying the debutants deserved commendation for their showing against Chad.
But the Senegal ’92 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medallist insists the Eagles (who faced Chad) lack players of real quality, urging Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi not to bow to pressure to leave Chelsea midfielder Mikel, Chelsea forward Moses, New Tigres de la UANL striker Uche Ikechukwu and Celtic defender Ambrose out of his plans for the qualifiers.
The players helped Nigeria win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
“There was no exceptional player in our team, but they played very well,” Ezeugo, who represented Nigeria at the Seoul ’88 Olympic Games and USA’94 World Cup, told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.
“The new players (Slovenia-based Madu and Holland-based Esiti) are good. But they need time to integrate themselves into the team.”
The 47-year-old, who plied his trade in Denmark, Malaysia, India, United States, Spain, Hungary, Wales and Peru before hanging up his boots after a season at Peruvian side Estudiantes de Medicina in 2001, added, “We still Mikel, Moses, Uche, Emenike and Ambrose in the Eagles.
“They are big names, and have the experience to make the team stronger. We still need our experienced players back in the team.
“We can’t afford to miss out on a place in the 2017 the Africa Cup of Nations. Keshi should invite them for our next game.”
Mikel was restricted to bit-part role at Chelsea following Nemanja Matic’s return to Stamford Bridge in the January 2014 transfer window. The 28-year-old was also be plagued by injuries and only returned late April to play a part in the Blues’ Premier League triumph.
Emenike endured a difficult season in Turkey, scoring only four league goals in 27 appearances for Fenerbahce, while Uche struggled with injuries and poor form – and managed to score only six goals in 23 appearances for his former Spanish La Liga side Villarreal last season.
Ambrose and Moses also struggled with form and injuries last season.
Ezeugo says Keshi deserves all the credit for giving more young players the chance to shine, despite criticism from some sections of the media, saying the country will have a team that can challenge for titles in the future.
But the Senegal ’92 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medallist insists the Eagles (who faced Chad) lack players of real quality, urging Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi not to bow to pressure to leave Chelsea midfielder Mikel, Chelsea forward Moses, new Tigres de la UANL signing Uche and Celtic defender Ambrose out of his plans for the qualifiers.
The players helped Nigeria win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
“There was no exceptional player in our team, but they played very well,” Ezeugo, who represented Nigeria at the Seoul ’88 Olympic Games and USA’94 World Cup, told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.
“The new players (Slovenia-based defender Madu and Holland-based midfielder Esiti) are good. But they need time to integrate themselves into the team.”
The 47-year-old, who plied his trade in Denmark, Malaysia, India, United States, Spain, Hungary, Wales and Peru before hanging up his boots after a season at Peruvian side Estudiantes de Medicina in 2001, added, “We still Mikel need Moses, Uche, Emenike and Ambrose in the Eagles.
“They are big names, and have the experience to make the team stronger. We need all our experienced players back in the team.
“We can’t afford to miss out on a place in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Keshi should invite them for our next game.”
Mikel was restricted to bit-part role at Chelsea following Nemanja Matic’s return to Stamford Bridge in the January 2014 transfer window. The 28-year-old was also plagued by injuries and only returned late April to play a part in the Blues’ Premier League triumph.
Emenike endured a difficult season in Turkey, scoring only four league goals in 27 appearances for Fenerbahce, while Uche struggled with injuries and poor form – and managed to score only six goals in 23 appearances for his former Spanish La Liga side Villarreal last season.
Ambrose and Moses also struggled with form and injuries last season.
Ezeugo says Keshi deserves all the credit for giving more young players the chance to shine, despite criticism from some sections of the media, saying the country will have a team that can challenge for titles in the future.
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