Confederation Cup is right on the corner, and every team is trying to choose best of its available talents, but on the other side, there is one team who is equally promoting its young talent along with using its experienced players. Nigeria, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in February, has made nine surprising changes to the team that crowned them Africa’s prestigious title. The newly selected teammates include four players who have never played in an international match before. This is rather a brave attempt from the coach who says his team consist a well needed mixture of both talent and experience. As far Nigerian defense is concerned, coach tries to retain a solid firewall by excluding players like Joseph Yobo, Peter Odemwingie, and Obafemi Martins. Earlier, local media aggressively criticized Coach Stephen Keshi for making a biased decision while selecting players; perhaps some of them even blamed him for choosing players out of his local clubs, while on the other side, coach says, he is stuck to his promise to promote local league hence he has chosen most of the players from Nigerian Premier League.
Out of 23 players chosen for the confederation cup, Sunday Mba, Chigozie Agbim, Emeka Eze, Godfrey Oboabona, and Solomon Kwambe were in the team during Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa while Gambo Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Benjamin Francis (Heartland), and Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves) are local players who were called to debut their international careers. Nigeria is in Group B along with Spain, Uruguay, and Tahiti and their first match will be on June 17 against Team Fenua. Group B of the tournament comprises teams like Brazil, Japan, Mexico, and Italy. Moreover, Super Eagles will have to play world cup qualifier in Windhoek on Wednesday before heading to Brazil.
Nigeria’s complete squad for 2013 Confederations Cup:
Goalkeepers: Austin Ejide (Hapoel Beer Sheva), Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers), Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv).
Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Efe Ambrose (Celtic), Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga), Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC), Godfrey Oboabona (both Sunshine Stars), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag), Solomon Kwambe.
Midfielders: Emeka Eze (Enugu Rangers), Fegor Ogude (Valerenga), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), John Ogu (Academica Coimbra), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio), Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne), Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kiev), Joseph Akpala (Werder Bremen), Michael Babatunde (FC Kryvbas), Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese).