Former Super Eagles skipper Sunday Oliseh has hit back at coach Stephen Keshi over his recent comment regarding the number of home-based players he picked for the just concluded 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.
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Keshi selected six home-based players to the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa where the Eagles lifted the trophy for a third time and the former Togo and Mali boss also picked eight players from the local league for the Confederations Cup where they failed to advance to the next round of the competition.
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Oliseh faulted Keshi's decision while working as a pundit for SuperSport which Keshi in his recent reactions did not take lightly.
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But Oliseh fires back: "Several scouting visits to our local league games find the tempo and standard quite low, not credible and with the crisis in the world have little time to wait for years work to upgrade these players, otherwise Sunday Mba, who I find quite solid and talented should have been bought immediately after the AFCON.
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"Continuity makes a team grow and ever since we won the Nations cup in February our team line-up has been unpredictable and full of constant changes.
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In a year leading to the world cup that should not be the case," the former Standard Liege midfielder wrote on his blog.
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"True we had injuries to key players but they had people on the bench for them at the AFCON who should have taken over the baton and continue with the spirit and new players invited to understudy.
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The former Bochum of Germany player also responded to Keshi's claims that he was a nobody when he made his debut for the Super Eagles.
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"For the records sake and in answer to Keshi's erroneous declaration, I was 3 years as a pro in Belgium and a regular player in Liege by 1993 when I got my first call up to the Super Eagles and in those days, our national league was on 'fire'; well organised, competitive, balanced and one of the best in Africa. That's how Clemence Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo succeeded!.
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"It is unfortunate that Keshi sees enemies everywhere and maybe it is understandable but the interest of Nigeria's progress is what we all should be seeking now, and I believe making attacks like he is doing is not the right way to go about it. We are way too matured for that, at least I know I am!"
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He also stated that he is not interested in succeeding Keshi as the coach of the Eagles.
Sunday Oliseh should just let the man be once and for all. I believe Stephen Keshi would still take us to the promised land in years to come....