Sports: Nig vs Chad: No need for overseas-based players, says Chukwu

MAY 26, 2015




Christian Chukwu

Former Nigeria international, Christian Chukwu, is convinced that the professionals in the Nigerian league are capable of prosecuting the match against Chad rather than Stephen Keshi calling on the overseas-based players.

The former Nigeria captain believes that while not underrating the Chadians, the players in the Glo Premier League are experienced and talented enough for the work at hand.

The retired defender and another ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju, also believe that Keshi is right in leaving out two of the country’s strikers – Emmanuel Emenike and Brown Ideye – from the list of overseas-based players called for the Rwanda 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

As the Eagles aim to return to continental glory, Keshi on Monday released a list of 15 overseas-based players to join the 26 home-based players for the AFCON qualifier against Chad on June 13 in Kaduna without the duo.



The list excluded the Fenerbahce and West Bromwich Albion’s strikers but included new players such as Andrew Esiti, who plays for Estoril FC of Portugal. The former players, who spoke with our correspondent in separate interviews, said the form of players is important to inviting them for camping.

For former Eagles coach, Chukwu, the players’ dip in form is a good reason to drop them for performing ones, adding that the home-based players should be enough for the match.

“If the current forms of the players were considered, Keshi was right to have left them out. When a player is not in form, he isn’t in form,” Chukwu said.

“This is a national team and not a clubside where when a player is out of form, you can still use him in a bid to get him back to form.

“However, I believe that our home-based players are good enough to win us that match. Chad themselves aren’t coming with overseas-based players so I believe that with the right training our home-based players are enough to do the job.”

Adepoju thinks the number of players is okay. He said, “First, the number of players invited for the Chad match is not too much. They allow for the coach to check the right players for each department and also to ensure the selection of the best for the match.

“The coach knows the yardstick for his decision not to invite them but what is very important at the back of every coach’s mind is the right players to allow him win the match he has in front of him.

“The players too when observed will see that everybody can’t play at the same time and they should take it in good faith.”

The 28 invited domestic league players invited for the game next month have resumed training at the Abuja camp of the team.