Officials accuse Eagles’ coach of destroying the team
SUPER Eagles’ defender, Godfrey Oboabona, who was stretchered out during Nigeria’s opening group game on Monday against Iran, will play no further part in the competition, sources in the Nigerian camp have revealed.
Oboabona, replaced by team captain, Joseph Yobo, was wheeled out of the pitch midway in the first half of the game.
Although the result of the scan on his leg was yet to be released as at press time, officials of the team disclosed that he has a big gash on his toe, which makes it impossible for him to wear boots or any shoe right now.
Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, confirmed that Oboabona had been ruled out of the competition, adding, however, that team coach, Stephen Keshi, was still hoping for a miracle to change the defender’s situation.
Meanwhile, one of the assistant coaches of the team has been fingered as the brain behind some of the woes of the national team at the on-going World Cup.
The coach, according to camp sources, has so alienated Stephen Keshi, from reality that the chief coach has become “a zombie even though his arrogant nature has made him unapproachable.”
According to one of the sources, who pleaded anonymity, “it is difficult to counsel Keshi because he believes so much in his coaches that even when one of them is trading with the team he feigns ignorance.
“Even before the final list of players was made, we tried to impress on Keshi the dangers in some of the decisions he took, but he believed the coaching crew was right in everything it did.
“When the players clamoured for the tapes of Iranian team’s matches to prepare for the game, nobody listened to them because the coaches felt the Asians were no threat. So, Nigeria went to the game blindly and we all saw the result.
“Now, Oboabona and Gabriel Reuben are out of the World Cup; Omeruo is just managing and we have as substitutes such players as Babatunde Michael, Michael Uchebo, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kunle Odunlami. These are players we may field against Bosnia and Argentina. We are in trouble.”
He revealed that Omeruo received an injection on his thigh to enable him play against Iran on Monday.
Nigeria must beat Bosnia on Saturday and hope for a fair result against Argentina to qualify for the second round of the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
