Keshi Blasts Back at Yobo

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has
expressed utter disappointment in captain
Joseph Yobo's recent outburst over his
exclusion from the squad that forced the
Harambee Stars of Kenya to a 1-1 draw in
Calabar a fortnight ago in a 2014 FIFA
World Cup qualifier.
The former Olympique Marseille star said in
an interview he granted a local radio
station Brila FM on Tuesday morning that
he deserves some measure of respect from
the one-time Togo national team coach,
but a visibly shocked Keshi told Complete
Sports after being informed of his skipper's
rantings that he is still an integral part of
the team despite the emergence of the duo
of Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona
in the team's central defence.
"I'm disappointed with such reaction from
Yobo on his exclusion from the team that
played Kenya," began the ex- Mali boss.
"Would he have preferred me bringing him
down to put him on the bench for the
game and disrupt the chemistry the duo of
Kenneth and Godfrey have been forming in
recent times? How do you think Nigerians
would react if I alter such solid
partnership?, " he queried rhetorically.
"Though I didn't call him before the game
but he is the captain of the team and I
expect more from him.He should know
better and learn to respect the decision of
the coach at all times even if I didn't call
him before I took that decision. But it is a
matter I will iron out with Joseph because
he is a fantastic professional.
He showed that while in South Africa and
we still need his experience for some of
the big games we will be playing in the
World Cup qualification series as well as
the (FIFA) Confederations Cup in Brazil. So
he's still very much the team captain," the
Big Boss explained.
The former national team captain also took
some time off to debunk Yobo's claim that
one of the assistant coaches is envious of
his achievements with the national team,
adding that the coaches on the bench have
also won an AFCON medal at one time or
the other.
"None of the technical crew is envious or
witch-hunting Yobo; after all, the coaches
on the bench have also won the Nations
Cup and there's no point for him thinking
that way," he stressed.
Yobo is Nigeria's most capped player with
95 caps- five games short of reaching a
century of appearances for the three-time
AFCON winners.