BBC SPORT | AFRICA | Onigbinde defends Nigeria selections

By BBC Sport Online's Eniwoke Ibagere in Lagos

Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde has defended his World Cup preparation programme, which has attracted criticism from fans and the media.

They say his invitation of several uncapped players for the 17 April warm-up against Scotland in Aberdeen shows he is still experimenting.

We have started serious and real preparation for the World Cup finals

Adegboye Onigbinde

But Onigbinde, appointed after Amodu Shaibu was fired for failing to win the African Nations Cup, insisted his programme is relevant.

"We have started serious and real preparation for the World Cup finals," he told BBC Sport Online.

"Any Nigerian found relevant to my World Cup build-up programme will be given an opportunity to prove himself."

Eight players with domestic clubs and Patrick Mancha, with Singaporean club Jurong, as well as unknown Emeka Ugali of Monza in Italy are among the new faces

Mancha was captain of the national under-23 side that won bronze at the 1991 All-Africa Games in Cairo, while Ugali has not represented Nigeria at any level.

Old guard

Established players including Taribo West, Tijani Babangida, Garba Lawal and Ike Shorounmu were not invited for the Scotland friendly.

They were also excluded from Onigbinde's squad in his first match in charge - a friendly against Paraguay last month which ended 1-1.
Julius Aghahowa was the joint top scorer at the 2002 African Nations Cup
Julius Aghahowa is one of Nigeria's key players

Onigbinde, however, said: "We want to do an honest job and if these new players invited fail us, we'll look elsewhere."

The country's sports minister Ishaya Mark Aku is among those in support of the World Cup build-up plan.

Meanwhile, Onigbinde said players with domestic clubs will begin training for the Scotland friendly on Tuesday in Ota town, near the commercial capital Lagos.

The tiny squad leaves Lagos for Aberdeen on 12 April to join the overseas-based players.


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