Keshi Replies Oliseh’s Criticism, Says “He Was a Nobody When He Started.”

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has taken a swipe at Supersport analyst Sunday Oliseh over comments he made concerning the coach’s selection policy at last month’s FIFA Confederations Cup.

Eagles crashed out of the group stage of the tournament, losing to Uruguay and Spain with their only victory coming against Tahiti.

Oliseh, who had commended the Super Eagles and Keshi-led technical crew for their Confederations Cup performances, criticised Keshi for going to the competition with eight home-based players; arguing that Nigeria’s best players were in Europe and players only remained in the Nigerian league because they were yet to get European clubs to sign them.

Keshi, in response to the comment pointed out that Oliseh “started from home,” stressing that the building process of the current national team has been rightly enforced by the inclusion of home-based players.

“It is a shame that Sunday Oliseh could say a thing like that. He was a nobody when he came to the national team. He started from home too,” said Keshi.

“When he came to the national team, I took him as younger brother. I later (as an assistant to coach Ahmodu Shuaibu) made him captain and he became a super star. Who knows what these boys could become in future?

“Is it bad that we are trying to build a team with the inclusion of home-based players? Please, help me question the integrity of those who are opposed to this and tell them that it’s right,” added Keshi.