Keshi backs Mikel, Moses, Utaka for CAF awards

*Calls for support against Liberia

BY JACOB AJOM

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has backed the three national team players nominated for the 2012 Africa Footballer of The Year Award by the Confederation of African Football, Thursday.

Speaking in a chat with Sunday Vanguard Sports, the national chief coach said, “It is good. I hope all of them get it because it has been a long time a Nigerian won the award. It is good for the country.”

Keshi said he hoped Mikel Obi, John Utaka and Victor Moses would see their nominations as a challenge for better performance. “It is up to them to seize the situation and justify their nominations. On my own, I cannot tell you whether this will serve as a motivation or not. It is up to them,” he said repeatedly.

Keshi also spoke on the impending second leg tie of the 2013 AFCON qualifier against Liberia on October 13. “We are working hard. What we are doing now is concentration, concentration and concentration.”

He said although it was painful that one of his central midfielders, Gabriel Reuben would not be fit for the match, his team was not built around one player. “That is why it is a team,” he said, adding, “When  one person is out, the next person to him would have to step up to fill that gap. We must support him.”

Keshi calls for the support of Nigerians, saying, “It is our country and I expect everybody to rally round the team. I knoe every Nigerian wants the Eagles to be in South Africa.”