SUPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has explained the rationale behind his invitation of additional numbers of foreign based players ahead of next weekend's decisive AFCON 2013 qualifier against Liberia.The former Super Eagles skipper said his decision to call up 15 players from various clubs based abroad was informed by his fear regarding the fitness level of the home based players who he said have been inactive since the Nigeria Premier League 2012/13 season ended."I know people would wonder why I increased the number of foreign-based players. But it's not in any way a panic measure. I had to do this beca-use I was conc-erned about the fitness level of my home-based players'' said the former Anderlecht of Belgium libero.He added.'' The players have been inactive for close to a month now because the season has ended.But the foreign-based players play every week so their fitness level is not a worry."Considering this I decided to increase the number by adding four more players to those invited for previous matches. So, it's not because of pressure or panic."He however, restated his promise that any NPL player who proves himself would be picked ahead of their foreign based counterparts.Meanwhile, 12 of the 22 home based players who have been training in Abuja ahead of the encounter billed for the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar would be dropped this weekend.According to Keshi, only 10 players from the pool of players from the NPL will make the trip to Calabar for the match in which the Eagles need at least a scoreless draw to scale through.Meanwhile,SUPER Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi has said the Lone Star of Liberia is not a week team, but a team to watch out for.Keshi said he would not look down on the Liberians especially after they defeated Ghana 2-0 in a friendly match in September and also held the Super Eagles to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Africa Cup of Nations."At this stage of the qualifiers if you underrate any team you will pay for it.We won't underrate Liberia because they have shown that they are very hungry to qualify ahead of us for the Nations Cup next year. Yes, we may be the favourites but I don't believe in paper talk."You don't write off a team that held you to a 2-2 draw and then few days later defeated a big side like Ghana in a friendly match by 2-0. It only sends out their intent that we need to take them very serious in spite of being seen as favourites to win the game," said the Nigerian head coach to supersport.com.The former Mali and Togo manager added that there will be no margin for error, as he will pick his strongest squad to face the Liberians in Calabar on October 13."So we will put out our best players in order to get the needed result to take us to the Nations Cup next year," said the Super Eagles' head coach.The first leg between Nigeria and Liberia ended 2-2 in Monrovia in September.
Click here to read full news..
