Confed Cup: Eagles won’t miss Yobo — Fuludu

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Edema Fuludu, believes the national team will not miss the services of captain Joseph Yobo at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, which begins on June 15.

The Fenerbahce defender had a bust-up with coach Stephen Keshi after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations victory, after he was excluded for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar. He was again left out of the squad for the Confederations Cup.

Fuludu, Keshi’s teammate when Nigeria won the Nations Cup in 1994, has backed the decision to drop the 32-year-old Yobo, the country’s most capped international.

He said, “Yobo was getting slow and I think Keshi is looking for the average age of players who have the capacity to absolve the intensity of games at that level. You have to be younger and that is what is obtainable currently in football. I don’t expect anybody to query why Yobo is not in the team.

“Sincerely at the 2013 AFCON and even before then, we realised that he was getting slow. For me, he has had it good and well at the national level and if he doesn’t make the team again, it’s okay. It’s clear that if you don’t leave football, it leaves you.

“Experience counts no doubt but you must make the team in such a way that there is a balance and competition and blend of experience and youthfulness.”

Keshi included eight home-based players in the squad to Brazil while also handing Werder Bremen forward, Joseph Akpala, a chance to revive his international career.

Europe-based youngsters, John Ogu, Michael Babatunde and Nnamdi Oduamadi also made the squad but Fuludu feels Nigeria can create an impression.

The Eagles are in Group B alongside world champions Spain, Uruguay and minnows Tahiti.

“If the rebuilding has to be by elimination and substitution, he (Keshi) has to go ahead. I think that nobody goes to a competition not to win it. I also think that Nigeria doesn’t want to go there and get disgraced. Spain and Uruguay are the high-level teams but that does not mean Tahiti would be a walkover. We stand a chance.

“We must work hard and let Keshi do his job. We cannot say the team is balanced yet but they are a work in progress. People are coming in and going out. It’s not about home-based players. I also think Keshi is telling us that the talents are here and that is better for all of us. If the national coaches can look inwards, then we have less stress of  foreign-based professionals who cannot honour invitations as at when due,” Fuludu added.