Osaze, Agbim and their nine lives

Finally, the Super Eagles list for the 2014 FIFA World Cup holding in Brazil was made public on Tuesday. The release put to rest all the arguments, false lists and pressures tied around the list. And many of these were not really necessary as Nigeria’s list became something extraordinary compared to the other 31 countries billed for the 2014 World Cup. Before Stephen Keshi and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation released the list, I had imagined that it was only the cat that had nine lives going by what humans have always said about the feline. But after going through the provisional squad for Brazil I have come to realise that some players can also boast of nine lives. Chigozie Agbim, Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo certainly have nine football lives but I don’t know how many one can count for Ikechukwu Uche. These four players, I understand, were the major issue when Keshi presented the original provisional list to the NFF. The Technical Committee members were not too sure if Yobo was still needed but they were adamant that the coach could get another goalkeeper from the Nigerian league who could replace Agbim. The indices used were very clear. They spoke on the keeper’s performance in South Africa during CHAN earlier this year; they were also not comfortable that a number one goalkeeper of the home-based Eagles could not tie down the number one shirt in Rangers. The fear was that anything could happen in Brazil and suddenly the third choice goalkeeper could then become number one. I share this fear with them. Agbim didn’t impress in South Africa but I must admit that I have not watched him in action in the local league or elsewhere since then. Some people have argued that he has overcome the stage fright and could do better with a fresh challenge. I wait to be convinced on that. As for Yobo, I doubt if he can stand the heat of the World Cup even though this is just a provisional list. I wish he was used so long ago for the friendlies so that he could have cooled off his emotions completing the 100 caps race. A friend of mine has argued several times that the team needs the experience of the defender on the pitch from time to time. If that is what Keshi also thinks of him, then so be it. But if Yobo could miss so many games in the English Premier League due to fitness/injury challenge, then he needs to convince us that he still has a place even in a provisional list.