No cause for worry says the big boss

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said there
is no cause for alarm despite late
withdrawals and some call-ups are yet to
join the squad.
A spate of injuries has caused Scotland-
based midfielder Gabriel Reuben, Emmanuel
Emenike, Kalu Uche and Victor Moses to
pull out of his squad ahead of World Cup
qualifiers and the Confederations Cup.
The bulk of the foreign-based
professionals are also yet to join the
Eagles training camp.
However, Keshi, who steered less-endowed
Togo to that country’s only World Cup
qualification eight years ago, said he is
up to the challenges.
“I am never one to run away from
challenges. I have confronted them head-on
all my life. I have very good relationship
with each and every of my players, with
mutual respect and regard being the
bedrock,” he said.
“The players that we have invited for
these matches are patriots and are always
ready to defend the green-white-green.
“We have 16 players here now and team
spirit is high. Everyone wants to play.
What we will certainly not do is to beg
anyone to play for Nigeria”.
Keshi said he expected the foreign pros to
arrive late because they have just ended a
demanding season.
 “Most of the players have just concluded
very gruelling seasons and have need to
sort out personal issues, and of course
there are talks to hold ahead of next
season. These talks have to be done now
considering that the players would be away
for about seven weeks, on duty for
Nigeria,” he reasoned.
Meanwhile, the team’s Novina Hotel camp in
Nuremberg swelled on Wednesday morning
with the arrivals of Germany-based striker
Joseph Akpala and Ukraine-based forward
Babatunde Michael.
Portugal-based John Ogu was being expected
on Wednesday night, while defenders
Kenneth Omeruo and Elderson Echiejile, as
well as Nnamdi Oduamadi are expected on
Thursday.
First-choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama
will arrive on Friday, while Efe Ambrose
and Ogenyi Onazi have been granted
permission to arrive on Saturday due to
club commitments.
The team will fly out of Frankfurt on
Tuesday morning aboard a Lufthansa Airline
aircraft, and will arrive in Houston,
Texas, in the evening.
They are booked into the classy The Westin
Galleria and Westin Oaks.