Rwanda vs Nigeria: Keshi's Bold Experiment

1. When Nigeria take on Rwanda in Kigali in the 2013 Africa Nations cup qualifiers, there is a strong chance that the team list will be made up of more than the token homebased player.
2. With eleven players called up from Europe and the entire 20-man homebased squad which just defeated Liberia in Monrovia also invited, there is every chance of that happening, especially in central defence and right back. But that is not really the issue here...
3. It appears from the events leading up to this game that Keshi has reversed the order in which the Super Eagles teams have been developed in recent times, by beginning the process from the domestic league and using the Euro-based players to supplement. Time will tell how much the final lineup bears this out...But why is this important?
4. As in all things football, any approach is as good as the validation that results from the field provides, and this approach will be no different.
5. As I have stated before, the domestic league is a jewel of inestimable value; you never know what you are going to get (Link)! But make no mistake, Nigeria's best natural talents lie in the domestic game and not in the leagues of Europe. They represent a viable way to refresh a stale national team or expand the tactical options available to national team coaches.
6. A player like Ejike Uzoenyi is a viable option at left midfield to provide width to the team and stretch opposing defences, as well as use his pace to get behind defences.
7. Regarding the contingent from Europe, it is dissapointing to see the return of Sani Kaita. But let there be no misunderstanding! I am a strong believer in the rights of a coach, any coach to freely select any player of his choosing as long as he lives or dies by his results. So I do not question Keshi's rights to select Kaita.
8. Truth be said, Sani Kaita has been a loyal servant of the national team at every level and every game he has played in, the red card nothithstanding.
9. But I am dissapointed nonetheless because it is the responsibility of a national team coach to set performance standards for our players, at whatever level they practice their trade, and enforce such. Sani Kaita at the moment does not begin to meet any concievable positive performance standard. I like Sani Kaita; I think he deserves to be in the Super Eagles, but we should challenge him to earn it, not give him a pass....
10. But if the case of Kaita is a little understandable, the invitation of Yakubu Aiyegbeni is downright dubious. The problem with the Super Eagles that Keshi inherited from Siasia was not the attack. If anything, the data shows a vast improvement in attack and the performance of the strikers. We have multiple options in attack that meet our immediate needs and are viable for the long term. The time to fully integrate them into the team is now, not in one or two years when Yakubu might have made the inevitable descent to the English Championship!
11. On the other hand Victor Moses is invited and hopefully makes a long awaited debut for Nigeria. His pace and especially his ability to play between the lines, either centrally in midfield or running diagonally from wide areas, should bring something new to the team. 

Nigeria Squad:

Euro-based: Vincent Enyeama, Taye Taiwo, Joseph Yobo; Joel Obi, Dickson Etuhu, Sani Kaita, Victor Moses;  Ikechukwu Uche, Osaze Odemwingie, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Ahmed Musa.

Home-based:Chigozie Agbim, Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Gabriel Reuben, Uche Ossai, Sunday Mba, Kalu Uche, Papa Idris, Henry Uche, Osasco Omamo, Obinna Nwachukwu, Izu Azuka, Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Emmanuel, Kabir Umar, Kingsley Salami, Uche Oguchi, Okemute Odah, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Azubuike Egwueke