The “Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi has stated that instead of him inviting Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo for the sake of sitting on the team’s bench for crucial international matches he would rather not invite him for sake of honouring the highest capped Nigerian international star defender.
The Fenerbache defender Yobo has again been overlooked by Keshi for next month’s friendly against South Africa in Durban after he last featured for the country at the 2013 AFCON.
“It will not be fair to invite Yobo to the national team and asked him to be on the bench, it will be a huge disgrace and I won’t be part of that,” said Keshi.
“When the team needs him, he will be recalled and will definitely start as captain even if along the line we substitute him.”
He added: “For the captain of the team, he has to work extra hard to remain so because he is leader of the team and that has been the philosophy of the team since we took over because that was the way we were brought up to captain the national team.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will on Friday morning at the FIFA Goal Project test their might against Abuja FC in a game primed to test the readiness of the team against Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
Only 18 players from the 24 presently in camp will make the trip to Abidjan for the return leg of the final round qualifier of the CHAN championship.
Before now 20 players were billed for the trip.
