TheCable

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has laughed off reports that he handed invitations to Ikechukwu Uche and his brother, Kalu for Wednesday’s game against South Africa in Cape Town, saying the media is misleading Nigerians.

Keshi had a media spat with the younger of the Uche brothers whom he accused of wanting to be begged before honouring Nigeria’s call – a claim the player promptly denied.

The Big Boss, who breezed into Cape Town Tuesday morning to link up with rest of the squad, said he was shocked at the reports, as it was simply not feasible to call up the duo for the game against Bafana Bafana.

“I have heard it [the reports] myself and I just laughed because those who should know that we have no time between our last game and the match against Bafana Bafana are the same people misleading Nigerians.

“These players are professional footballers and there are processes for invitation; you don’t just bump into them and say ‘come and play’. That is very unprofessional and I never did that.”

Nigeria go into Wednesday’s game on the heels of a humiliating 3-2 home loss to Congo last Saturday and Keshi is looking for a quick response from his players.

“We are the champions of Africa and we must start showing that not only against Bafana but in all our remaining games,” he said.

The team’s stand-in captain, Austin Ejide, also voiced his opinion on the make-or-break match.

“There are no easy games again but we have our backs to the wall now and we must do what we have to do to move on in the chase to qualify for the Nations Cup,” he said.