The final list of 23 players called up to the team of the senior national team of Nigeria for their world cup qualifiers was made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle pruned the provisional list of 39 players to 23 and make some really huge calls by dropping some players, expected by many to be in the team.
OwnGoalNigeria.com gathered from a backroom staff that certain parameters were used in picking the team, and it played a huge role in the decision that saw some players axed. In some cases those who have been doing well for their respective teams in Europe.
We gathered that Cyriel Dessers who has 22 goals for Scottish side Rangers was left out due to the fact that the coach prefers a young player in Tolu Arokodare to be the fourth choice striker of the team, other than the 30 year old who has six caps and two goals for Nigeria.
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Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was left out as he only recently returned from a wrist injury that has kept him out since last year, and needs to be fully fit before getting involved with the team. It is the same with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of fellow Serie A side Lazio.
The shocking omission of Frank Onyeka who is on loan to German side Augsburg from Brentford was purely for tactical reasons, with Chelle keen on possession based football and feels the duo of Alhassan Yusuf and Papa Daniel fits the system for both games better.
Defender Gabriel Osho was shockingly not listed by the coach , and per what we gathered it was also for tactical reasons with Chelle preferring Ogbu largely due to his better abilities on the ball , that suits his philosophy of playing from the back better than Osho.
For Uche Chrisantus it was largely due to the fact that he has played more as a striker at Getafe than a midfielder. He played just once in that role against Atletico Madrid last weekend a little bit too late with the team list already prepared. Aside that he is more of a ball winner. A role that perfectly suits Wilfred Ndidi better due to his experience.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
