By Uchenna Ajah(thenation)
Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi has opened up to SuperSport.com that the local-based lads were by far the best performers against Rwanda.
The Super E
agles of Nigeria held their Rwandan counterparts to a goalless draw in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in Kigali on Wednesday.
Keshi in the game against Rwanda started three local-based stars in Ejike Uzoenyi, Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwuekwe.
He also named four other NPL stars - Chigozie Agbim, Gabriel Reuben, Papa Idris and Uche Kalu - on the bench.
Keshi was clearly impressed with Enugu Rangers' winger, Uzoenyi during his chat with SuperSport.com and rated him above the rest of the starters for the Nigerian squad.
The Nigerian coach popularly called 'Big Boss' added that Uzoenyi was by miles the top man ahead of the likes of Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Peter Osaze Odemwingie and Ahmed Musa in performance during the game.
"Ejike for me was our best player among those that started. He was the one initiating almost every of our attacks even while we had the likes of Yakubu, Osaze and Musa on the pitch.
"But that doesn't mean Yakubu, Osaze and Musa and the rest of the squad aren't good. Footballers at times do have their off periods and in this case it happened to most of our foreign-based players and it only justifies that we have talent back home in the local league," Keshi remarked.
The former Mali and Togo coach when prodded further on his plans to drop a handful of foreign-based stars who did not lift their performance in Kigali, Keshi denied outright such move.
"Suppose Ejike didn't perform, will people also go to town to say I'm planning to drop him and other local-based players? I'll tell you that all that is mere speculation. I didn't tell anyone such. Because we are building doesn't mean we will pull down the old side and bring in a new team entirely. It's a gradual process in building a strong squad for the country," Keshi reacted to reports claiming he plans to drop Yakubu, Odemwingie, Dickson Etuhu and Joel Obi.
Keshi also said he is ready to keep the squad against Rwanda for subsequent games as he continues building the side.
The 50-year-old is also on the lookout for new addition to strengthen the squad especially from the home front, as he believes his team are still work in progress.
"We have games coming up against Gabon and Peru, and I won't just wake up and throw away this team. It's a building process we've started and it's a long-term plan. I will be looking for players to bring into the side to help out because we are not there yet," Keshi rounded off.
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