Ondo football fans divided over Keshi W/Cup list

Some football fans in Ondo State on Tuesday faulted Coach Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles’ final list for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. However, some believed nothing was wrong with the list and that all that was needed was prayers for the team to succeed at the Mundial. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Keshi on Monday released the 23-man final list, including three goal-keepers, six defenders, seven strikers and seven mid-fielders. The fans in separate interviews told NAN that Keshi dropped some important players who helped in securing the 2013 AFCON Cup in South Africa. They also advised that Keshi should inject his technical prowess in coordinating the squad for the team to go beyond the round of 16. A sports analyst in Ondo, Oluwatoyin Olafusi, said Keshi made a big mistake by dropping Sunday Mba, who sealed the 2013 AFCON Cup in South Africa. Olafusi said most of the players featured in the list might not have the zeal to surpass the round of 16 at the tournament. “The problem I have with Keshi is the dropping of Mba. Most of the players on that list will only help Keshi to lose his job,’’ he said. A television sports presenter, Kayode Bamiduro, said Keshi should have featured more of the home-based players instead of just three of them he listed. He, however said names like Joseph Yobo and Osazie Odemwingie should not have been on the final list. “What is Yobo and Odemwingie doing in that list? I think Keshi should have given more opportunities to the home-based players who could help pursue our dream,” Bamiduro said. For the General Manager, Ondo State Sports Council, Idowu Akinbulumo, the list had been released already and changes could not not be made again. Akinbulumo said Keshi should put in all his best to ensure the team went far in the World Cup. “Although, I am not too impressed with the list but Keshi must be ready to employ all technical prowess for the team to get to the quarter-finals in Brazil,’’ he said. A former Director, Ondo State Football Academy, Tunde Ogunja, said nothing was wrong with the list, adding that Keshi knew what he was doing. “I do not see anything wrong with the list; Keshi is the overall boss and he knows why he chose those he listed,” he said