Mikel, Moses may ruin Eagles' chances in Brazil, Akanni , Keshi on opposing Opinios

Nigerian Ex-international, Waheed Akanni has expressed concern at the lack of playing time for some of Super Eagles’ key players at their clubs as the World Cup approaches in Brazil.

Both John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses  of Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC of England respectively are expected to lead the Eagles’ battle in Brazil less than two months from now, but they have been relegated to non-starting roles at their clubs, Akani Said.

It was  also that the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi  expressed worry of this fact too, but  he however, said that the duo are capable of great performances when playing while Akanni feels this could impact on the team’s chance to make good progress in Brazil.

“To be honest, Super Eagles  will do their best at the World Cup but I am not sure we will get to where a lot of people think we will get to in Brazil,” Akanni told Goal.

“The fact is that a lot of our foreign star players are not playing first team football right now and that is a big concern for Keshi. So we have to be very careful,” he said.

He added that it would be a great achievement  if Super Eagles reaches the quarterfinal. “I think if we can get to the quarter-finals of this year’s World Cup we would have achieved a lot and I would be very happy with that. We have played in the second round before so the next should be at least the quarter finals stage,” he said. “But a lot of our players are not playing first team football so getting to the quarter finals will be a big achievement. It’s a big concern to a lot of stakeholders that our star players have not been playing regularly for their clubs abroad.

“I can also tell you that the [scheduled] three international friendly matches may not be enough for the players because there is no way you can substitute playing regular football and playing friendly games. “It is a different situation and different environment. Playing games week in, week out, of course, matters a lot and that is the honest truth about football,” Akanni opined.

But Coach Stephen Keshi has even announce that he will not need new faces in the Eagles camp any more because he beliefs the current Eagles squads can and will make Nigerians proud in Brazil by the middle of this year.