By John EGBOKHAN
Ex-international, Obed Ariri has said that the Super Eagles must be forceful in their attack when they confront the Harambee Stars of Kenya in a 2014 World Cup qualifier next month in Nairobi. He urged Coach Stephen Keshi to silence his detractors  with positive results

Ariri,  a member of the Association of Nigerian ex-internationals in the Disapora, ANED, which operates from the United States of America, said that the Eagles were going to qualify for the Brazil World Cup.

While chiding the Nigeria Football Federation for downsizing the technical crew and the backroom staff of the Super Eagles, Ariri said that the onus was now on Keshi to prove that what he achieved with the Eagles at the last AFCON in South Africa was not a fluke.

“To our indigenous head coach, Stephen Keshi, the Association of Nigerians ex-Internationals in Diaspora (ANED) is strongly behind you. We are impressed and happy with the way you’ve handled yourself and the Supper Eagles.

“Your hard work has paid off despite nagging distractions. You deserve to joyfully celebrate this milestone knowing fully well that you have plenty of work to do. Stay focused, determined, and strong. Remember, you can always silence your detractors by doing what you do best and that is win games. I will therefore leave you with the saying from Chinua Achebe, “one of the truest tests of integrity is it’s blunt refusal to be compromised”.

Ariri added that “ ANED calls on our Honorable President, Jonathan Goodluck, Minister of Sports,  Bolaji Abudullahi, all our loyal Governors and Nigerians to stand firmly behind our head coach, Stephen Keshi and his team. If I’m asked to counsel the NFF members in one terse sentence, I will remind them of what Mahatma Gandhi said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed”.

On the likely recall of the likes of Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie into the team, Ariri said that only Keshi can decide on which players to select for the Eagles.

“Keshi makes the final selection of his team. The players should respect him. Let me encourage the NFF members, strong financial supporters, members of the executive branch, and our loyal fans to stay away from our head coach, Stephen Keshi when it comes to the final selection of his players if we want to succeed”, he said.