Goodluck, Keshi, Eagles

Tomorrow Stephen Keshi will lead out the new Super Eagles he is rebuilding  against Burkina Faso in their first game of the 29th Africa Nations Cup in South Africa. However, I am not one of the Nigerians who want the Super Eagles to win the competition but I definitely wish they put up a respectable performance.

The joy of most Nigerians, including me is the boldness of Keshi to include home-based players, six in total, in his final squad for the competition. A decision that has buoyed the interest of the local players in the league which has more or less remained comatose since the crisis which has seen Davidson Owumu and Rumson Baribote in and out of the saddle of the Nigeria Premier League, NPL.

One Nigerian who has however, remained sceptical about their inclusion and has continuously criticised Keshi over it is for Eagles player, Jonathan Akpoborie, himself a product of youth football from the grass-root here.

Nigeria’s players listen to their national anthem before the Nigeria vs Cape Verde friendly football match in preparation for the CAN 2013 tournament at Algarve Stadium in Faro on January 9, 2013 . AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG

The NFF gave Keshi a semi final mandate but some fans are alrady saying the see the team going into the final and winning the competition. That may be askng for too much from a team just being assembled with more than half of them making their debut in South Africa.

The team should be supported in prayers and allowed to continue to grow into a formidable team with time irrespective of their achievement in this Nations Cup. If they go on to win the competition, that would be a big surprise and a big boost in their quest to pick a ticket for the 2014 World cup in Brazil.