BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE
The storm between Samson Siasia and the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation over the list to execute the next Nations Cup qualifier may have calmed down as the federation may have decided to allow Siasia’s conscience judge him over the quality of players he listed for the clash in Madagascar early next month.

Siasia, we gathered, complained of interference when his list was not approved last Friday. Siasia did not attend the meeting to defend the list and apologised in reply to the query over his absence from the meeting. The committee frowned at the invitation of players like Solomon Okoronkwo and Peter Utaka who were said to be injured and Efe Ambrose who has repeatedly performed below par. His blunder in Ethiopia resulted in the goal Nigeria conceded.

But Siasia was said to have insisted on players who “can fight for me in a match situation.”

However, a member of the committee summed up the feeling of othertechnical committee members this way:
“We felt that Siasia was not professional and fair in his selection and wanted him to answer a few questions. But he was not around. Utaka and Okoronkwo are injured. How did they make the list?

NOT A LAUGHING MATTER - Siasia

Ambrose has not proved to anybody that he merits national team play. Siasia keeps inviting him. When  We were in trouble in England when players did not turn for the rescheduled match against Ghana Siasia quickly invited Daniel Shittu, the player responded.

This time around, he left him out, just few days after the England experience.  Our biggest surprise is that he also left out Ekigo Ehiousu, the player who struggles and fights to score. We really wanted to know why he took certain decisions but he did not attend the meeting.

It is no interference and since he was not around we refused to discuss the list further. We have allowed him to carry on but he must take responsibility of what happens in Madagascar and the friendly against Argentina. This is our position.”

Another member of the Technical Committee confirmed this position and also pointed out the need for a smooth relationship between the players and their technical crew.