Super Eagles head coach,Stephen Keshi has admitted he faces an uphill task raising a solid team for CHAN if some of the present home boys secure contracts abroad before January next year.
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Amidst fears that he might lose key players during the on going transfer season, Keshi says he will beg the boys to delay their plans to go to Europe till after the CHAN Cup in February 2014.
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"I will try to talk to the players especially the duo of Godfrey Oboabona and Sunday Mbah who are the most likely to move abroad any moment. They need to stay and help the Super Eagles to challenge for the CHAN trophy in South Africa
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"We have come a long way with these boys and I must confess that it is not going to be easy raising a new team and getting the blend and cohesion in the squad now,'' Keshi stated.
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The former coach of Togo and Mali continued: "it will be lovely if the players do not just jump at just any chance to go abroad. If a good opportunity comes along, why not. I will try to have them play CHAN as a unit but at the end it is their decision and I am bound to respect their decision"
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However, Keshi said he would continue to build the CHAN squad alongside the World Cup ticket seeking Super Eagles adding that it is going to be quite difficult raising a new team if some of the boys decide to go abroad.
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He said there are talents in the country to replace those who want to leave adding that getting them to play the way he wants is the main hurdle.
Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona are two good players in that team I must say. So I don't blame Stephen Keshi for saying this!