Serbia-based defender, Ugo Ukah, has said he was not shocked Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea because the country’s best players are not playing for the team.
The FK Čukarički of Serbia central defender, who has been capped once by Nigeria, questioned the yardsticks coach Stephen Keshi used to call up players and why he benched players who would have helped Nigeria on match day, africanFootball.com reports.
“I was not surprised that my darling country Nigeria did not qualify to defend the Nations Cup won just last year.
“This is because there are better players out there than the ones who are playing for Nigeria right now and so they deserve a chance to prove themselves in the national team,” Ukah told africanFootball.com.
He questioned why Sone Aluko, who has been in good form for his English Premier League side Hull City, was left on the bench when the Eagles needed to score goals and win the game.
“Aluko that has been doing great in his club Hull City has not been well used in the Super Eagles. A nation like Nigeria cannot afford to make such mistakes anymore,” he argued.
“It is time things got back to ‘normal’ in Nigeria for players who are doing well to be called up without any sentiments.
“Where are the players who won the AFCON last year in South Africa? They don’t know how to play anymore?
“There is a right-back doing well in Norway over the years, Akeem Latifu, he never geo a look-in, rather the coach has preferred playing a makeshift right-back who always causes problem for the team.
“That’s what’s going on in Nigeria and until things are done right way, we will not achieve anything againm,” he stated.
Ukah also made a case for himself, saying there is no reason he has only been capped once by his country.
“I am doing really well now and so it is very disappointing to be ignored like that and seeing what is going on in the team without being able to help.
“But hopefully things will change. If somebody else will come, I hope the selection and scouting for the best Nigerian players in the world will be improved to guarantee constant high level for the Super Eagles.
“If Keshi will stay, I hope he will try to change things and make them better because for sure he is a great coach and has the knowledge to do that because he has proved that before.”
Thenationon
