Players of the senior national team of Nigeria are backing head coach Eric Chelle on his decision to leave Maduka Okoye out of the team, after he decided to shun the invitation to be a part of the team for the AFCON.
Okoye shunned the tournament because head coach Eric Chelle refused to assure him that he will be the first choice goalkeeper of the team. In his absence Chelle decided to hand a recall to Francis Uzoho who he kept in the wilderness for more than a year.
Uzoho accepted the back up role to first choice Stanley Nwabali, and he is now set to be handed the position with Nwabali inactive after terminating his contract with Chippa United after the AFCON.
Chelle’s decision which has generated debates after we exclusively reported it has drawn reaction from players of the team, who feel Okoye hasn’t shown enough commitment to the team lately.
” If we were going to be at the world cup, would Okoye has snubbed the AFCON to remain at Udinese? You know the answer. So if the coach says he is no longer in his plans it is justified’, a player said to us via Instagram.
” Maybe it’s the best way to prove to others that no one is bigger than the team. I know Chelle very well and he doesn’t like when a player undermines his authority”, another one said from his base in Europe.
” As a part of the defence for the tournament. I can tell you that the coach likes it when everyone is on the same page, which is why Uzoho is his preferred choice. Okoye didn’t cover himself in glory with his conduct”, a member of the AFCON team stated.
