Keshi’ll invite Osaze – Okala

Stephen Keshi

Nigeria ’80 Africa Cup of Nations winner Emmanuel Okala has revealed West Brom striker  Osaze Odemwingie  will be invited for Nigeria’s  June 5 World Cup qualifying game against Kenya in Nairobi.

Osaze   has not played for the Eagles since he featured in the Africa Cup of Nations  qualifier against Rwanda last year.

He missed out  on a place in the 2013  Africa Cup of Nations squad after his Twitter rants against coach Stephen  Keshi. Nigeria eventually won the championship, with Osaze denied the opportunity to win gold with the national team. He won bronze at the continental showpiece  in 2004, 2006 and 2010.

Former Eagles goalkeeper Okala said during the week the forward, who has  been frozen out by the Baggies manager Steve Clarke after the former Lille star launched a series  of attacks on the Premier League club on his Twitter page, would end his stay in the international football wilderness in June.

“I understand he (Keshi)  will also invite Osaze Odemwingie in the next game, to show that the perceived quarrel between them has been resolved,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted  Okala as saying.

The ex-Enugu Rangers keeper frowned upon calls for Keshi to invite certain players to the national team, saying the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner should be allowed to do his job.

He also urged fans not put Keshi under pressure in selecting players for the national team, adding that the few changes he effected in the qualifier against Kenya affected their performance.

Okala said, “People were clamouring for Obafemi Martins and some others and he invited them for the country to know their fitness level.

“We all saw why he has not been inviting them all along.”

The ex-Eagles goalkeeping coach condemned the reported rift between Keshi and his captain Joseph Yobo, urging the duo to resolve their differences.

“Yobo as the team’s captain should be notified about the affairs of the team because he is the next, after the coaches,” he said.

“I believe it was the cordial relationship in the team that made them win the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.”