Ibadan – Coach Festus Allen of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan has criticised the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for asking the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, from fielding some foreign-based players.

Allen was reacting to NFA’s recent directive to Keshi, asking him to stop using Yakubu Ayegbeni, Osaze Odemwingie and Dickson Etuhu.

Allen told newsmen on Friday in Ibadan that the NFA’s action was tantamount to interference and undue infringement in the affairs of the technical crew of the Super Eagles.

“Keshi should be left alone by the NFA to decide the players to field for any match.

“The NFA should face its administrative job of ensuring the development of football in the country and leave Keshi and the team alone,’’ he said.

According to him, it is not the duty of NFA to select players for the team but that of Keshi and the technical crew.

He warned that undue interference by the NFA, or any other group, would not augur well for soccer development in Nigeria.

Allen commended Keshi for the Super Eagles’ goalless draw with the Amavubi of Rwanda in the first round, first leg match of the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers on Wednesday in Kigali.

He said that Keshi’s approach during the match, if sustained, would lift Nigerian football from the doldrums.

Commenting on the use of home-based players for the match, Allen said it was a way of motivating them.

“Gone are the days when players were invited to camp just because they are playing for Chelsea, Arsenal or because they play in Europe,’’ Allen said.

He then urged Keshi to pay more attention to the National League in order to discover more talented players for the Super Eagles. (NAN))