Super Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi has dropped five players ahead his commencement of preparations for the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Namibia in Calabar this Saturday. He announced that five players will not be part of the camp in the Cross River State capital, but can be recalled in the nearest future.
Keshi made the announcement during dinner at the Excel Oriental Hotel in Lagos, where the team put up on return from Peru, before it jetted out to Calabar yesterday afternoon.
Twelve home based stars will be joined by Ekigho Ehiosun to compliment the 14 players earlier announced to now bring the number of players that will be in the Calabar camp of the team to 27. Those dropped on Saturday include Ugonna Uzochukwu of Rangers International, Enyimba’s Gbolahan Salami, Ossai Uche of Warri Wolves, Heartland’s first choice in goal, Dan Akpeyi and his counterpart from Sharks FC, Okemuteh Odah.
Keshi said that he had to drop the players because all of them cannot be in camp. “If I have my way all of us will be in camp, but we have reached a crucial bend and only the best of the best will be needed, that does not mean you are not good enough. And that is why I can assure that sooner than later we will again call on you. Go and ensure that you always play regularly for your clubsides and very well too, because that will form the basis of your recall.”
The Super Eagles yesterday afternoon departed for Calabar to kick-start preparations for Sunday’s cracker against the Namibia national team. The 12 home-based professionals who made the list are Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi, Juwon Oshaniwa, Izu Azuka, Godfrey Oboabona, Henry Uche, Kalu Uche, Papa Idris, Gabriel Reuben, Obinna Nwachukwu and Turkey based Ekigho Ehiosun.