Moses Kpakor feels Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh is making a mistake by
ignoring on-form Olympiakos forward Brown Ideye.
South Africa 2013 winner Ideye has not played for the Super Eagles since
he featured in a Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup against Spain in
Fortaleza on June 23, 2013.
Spain won the encounter 3-0.
The West Brom flop’s omission from the Brazil 2014 World Cup squad,
alongside Mexico-based Ikechukwu Uche and United States-based Obafemi
Martins, caused plenty of bedlam in the country, with former Eagles
manager Stephen Keshi bombarded with harsh criticism over his decision.
And Oliseh has left Ideye out in the cold since he took Nigeria’s reins
after Keshi was sacked in July.
With the Eagles struggling to create many clear-cut goal scoring chances
in recent times, former Nigeria midfield star Kpakor has seen Ideye as
the final part of the jigsaw that the team need to regain their fear
factor.
“Oliseh is making the same mistake Keshi made by not inviting Ideye,” the
Algiers ’90 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist told our correspondent
on the telephone on Monday.
“I warned Keshi that Emmanuel Emenike was not the player we could depend
on for goals, although he’s a good striker.
“I think I have been vindicated. Ideye is a technical player and a good
coach will bring the best out of him to win games.
“I think he’s one striker Oliseh needs to succeed. He should give him a
chance to prove himself.”
He added, “But I doubt if Ideye would honour any invitation to play for
the Eagles now.
“He has been ignored, despite playing well for his club. He could also
consider the quality of players in the national team and decide to stay
away.
“We have many average players playing for the country and it’s a very
worrying situation.
“I doubt if Martins would have returned to the national team if he were
playing for Inter Milan or any other big European club, given the quality
of players we have.”
The former BCC Lions captain advised Oliseh not to make too many changes
to his team, saying it could backfire in the long run.
Kpakor said, “Oliseh should have continued with the majority of the
players he inherited from Keshi.
“Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama, Uche, Ideye and Emenike had established
themselves as national team players before Keshi was employed.
“But he retained them and added a few new players to the squad. We have
lost Enyeama and Emenike since Oliseh took over.
“We have six or seven new faces in our matches these days. We should have
only three new faces playing for us.”
The 1990 African Cup Winners’ Cup winner said Oliseh must keep his
promise to invite only players who are commanding regular first-team
roles at their clubs for games.
The former Sharks coach said, “ (Goalkeeper) Carl Ikeme shouldn’t be
playing for the national team because he’s not playing for his club
(Wolverhampton Wanderers).
“There are other players warming the bench for their clubs in Europe
playing for the Eagles. This must stop.”
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