*Demand for list of 23 instead
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has rejected the 42-man list of players drawn up for invitation by Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, for the September 7 FIFA World Cup qualifiers match against the Flames of Malawi.
The NFF Technical and Development Committee in effect has told Keshi to reduce the list of players to 23 and do away with the jumbo list of 42 that he had earlier submitted.
The former Nigeria captain has been told in no uncertain terms that there would be no elaborate camp for 24 home-based players, earlier scheduled to arrive in Abuja on Sunday, out of which only five will make the shortlist for the match in Calabar.
Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green, explained: “We must be very pragmatic and take it one step at a time. The 2014 FIFA World Cup ticket is very, very important to Nigeria and Nigerians. Yes, we have qualified for the African Nations Championship, for the first time ever, and we very much appreciate it.
“But there are three very crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches that we must prosecute successfully to qualify for Brazil before we can start the build-up to the African Nations Championship.
Our smart money must be on focusing hard, and without any distraction, at the World Cup ticket.”
Keshi is expected to harmonise his list and submit a reviewed document to the NFF before the end of the week.
