^^^
This is the kind of scene we are hoping to see this world cup and who knows it could happen
As they say you have to be in it to win it
Below is a list of the provisional squad but are they our best or are they more than the sum of their parts
Nigeria's provisional World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC), Joseph Yobo (Norwich City), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Ramon Azeez (Almeria), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Joel Obi (Parma), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis), Sunday Mba (CA Bastia), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren), Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Victor Obinna (Chievo), Peter Odemwingie (Stoke), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge), Victor Moses (Liverpool), Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen).
Certain players jump to your attention immediately of being ommited or being introduced
But we must remember that this is just a provisional squad it can be rejigged and new players brought in
All because of indiscipline eyes on osaze or because the i word i will not say as to jinx anything
Goal keeping
Is the one area even the most ardent hater bites their tongue
especially with Enyeamas and his exploits this season
Then there is our backup Ejide who won many plaudits with his display against Mexico
The reserve goalkeeper option is one that cause fear in many fans
but if you really get to that situation luck may be against you
Not many nations have three outstanding keepers
Plus a wildcard between the sticks could be an advantage
Defence
This is an area man fans are scared and where cliches such as defence wins championships will be flung around like food in a food fight
But the question is do we have that much to fear
The defence we have currently is one of familiarity with the potential of experience to calm and provide back up
whether the experience is up to it is another question
The problem of injuries for yobo recently are a concern but if the defence is not going to rotated so much and if he is not going to necessarily starting games
experience and maturity could not hurt
The jury is out on the new players that came in for as i see with the provisional squad if in the very crucial game against scotland someone fails to perform they could be dropped for a regular who keshi already knows
With players such as kwambe and balogun waiting in the wings
Midfield
This is where i feel is Nigeria strength and here the right combination could transform the side into a possible legendary team or even dark horses
The midfield selection is where we get the first set of meaningful suprises
Ramon Azeez (Almeria)
With some players such as balogun not survivng the friendly vs Mexico
he must feel he can be assured of a place
he will hope he starts the Scotland game and if he gets a chance like the one vs Mexico he buries it this time
Can he be the illustrious third man or the springboard for which third man may leap
personally i do not mind his inclusion but look forward to seeing his versatility
Joel Obi (Parma)
though he looks more like
this now
he has thrown a spanner in the works for those typically trying to figure keshi
his problems and lack of game time is why though initially clambered for has had some fans become
cautious
i will not be one of those fans
if you read any other post i have been one of his most vocal supporters
and keshi you have brought him here
now he must be in the starting line up
no questions asked
the question of how he will be deployed is one for us to deliberate over i am just happy he is in the squad and hopefully it can kick start his career and will be of great aid to nigeria
p.s. supposedly newcastle is on his tail for them to bring him to tyneside
Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu RangersMichael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk).
This is nnamdi's last chance for the other players in this trio are up for that spot
if he does not start it does not bode well for him since his stock has fallen since scoring against tahiti
i think he needs to come out all guns blazing and look to get on the score sheet regularly shoot or provide some goal scoring opportunities
I really did like him but he tailed off and is he that good off of the bench i do not know? And is he good enough for the beginning of a match over Moses or Musa i do not know?
Ejike i missed chan sadly but he got many plaudits and has the quota for being a homebased player on his side
can he use that to his advantage
can he fight for a starting spot
because he did not come off of the bench against mexico
but then again keshi is a poker player liking to keep things close to the chest
he should start or come off bench though i feel his place is assured especially after chan
Babatunde has a tough task many fans not on his side
also he did not do well at confeds and also he could be just a filler so he eeds to force his way on the pitch vs scotland and play well well
i am not against him i will be open to see what he can do and can he handle the pressure
Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis), Sunday Mba (CA Bastia), Reuben Gabriel (Waasland-Beveren),
I like many others are not sure about his inclusion is he going to start is he really an attacking option or is he part of a possible tactic to flood the midfield at the world cup is he fighting to start or is it his last chance at being apart of the team
Sunday scoring on sundays is what he did at afcon
but what that his time to shine and can he shine again is what many people are asking
and in regards to keshi's lists we cannot be sure
because he was dropped against mexico
and has come back for the preliminary squad
mba is imbued with becoming the symbol of success
he has being playing in europe perhaps honing his his skills once more outside of the limelight
but can he be that spark he once was
will he start
time will tell
Gabriel
i do not know much about this player
but i watched a youtube vid calling him the nigerian yaya
could he be that who knows
will he even get on the pitch vs scotland is the bigger question
if you have been out of the team so long you need to get on that pitch and play your heart out
The forwards
much has been said for or against osaze
he was once my fav naija football player
and realistically it was between him and uche who would get that unruly spot
osaze humbled himself and osaze got the spot
he has in recent weeks earned being in the squad rather when he was at cardiff and the later half at west brom a case of nostalgia
But he has shown he is still an attacking outlet with the goals he has scored but also the ability and the willingness to shoot
whether it is outside or basially in the box
some tip him to take musa's spot
but what we do know is that if keshi is true to testing new or fringe players he will start or start the second half
Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United)Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge)Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen)
I was there when he assisted and scored that wonderous goal against italy
ameobi is i think assured of a berth
perhaps on that game alone
but along with uchebo is one of the few players that bring that aerial battle and difference possibly shown the goal he scored for newcastle being a diving header
Though many may malign to his previous england leanings or to the fact that he has been hardly prolific for newcastle
he has hit the ground running with nigeria and has been spoken of as a great personality in the dressing room
the kanuesque player
you will know that this blog was quick to recognise his talents and make an argument for his inclusion
as well as ezekiel who got dropped from the preliminaries
but i think with ezekiel he sees him as the future and got in there quick just to discourage any other nation getting to him
but this is about uchebo
he brought a level of class and skill which made neutrals instantly move him into the confirmed list and he is seen now as the symbol of another formation keshi can now add to his inventory
i would like to see more of him and see him perhaps with ameobi
but i dont think he has to rush for the scotland game
nwofor i have only seen clips of him and seen the goals he scored in the mandela cup
peace be upon madiba
the poacher is a role which could come in handy and immortalise a person
but will he get game time or is he reserved for the instant sub role the
and if so does that save him or condemn him
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