Final 23-man squad: Keshi keeps his cards close

The trainer looks set to wait till deadline day before announcing his final team even though he says he knows those players that will make the squad and those to be dropped.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said he already knows his final 23-man squad for the World Cup but would wait till June 2 before unveiling the list.

The Super Eagles drew 2-2 with Scotland in an international friendly in London on Wednesday with Uche Nwofor and Michael Uchebo scoring for the African champions after they fell behind twice.
The Big Boss would take pleasure in the knowledge that Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has tipped his side to reach the knock out stages due to the team’s unity.

“[Nigeria] seem to have a really good team spirit, which is not always easy for African teams,” Wenger wrote in his Eurosport World Cup preview. “They have less star players. They have a real team, and it’s been a while since that happened for them.”

The team has flown to Philadelphia in the United States ahead of their friendly with Greece on June 3.

They had their first work outs on Friday – one in the morning and another in the evening as Keshi who looked pleased with the fitness, tactical and technical depth of the side kept his cards close to his chest.

“I have an idea of those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list,” Keshi was quoted as saying by the team’s media officer Ben Alaiya after work out at the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium.

The trainer has chosen to wait till Fifa deadline day to name his final squad in order to watch for any drop in form and injuries.

After their match against Greece on June 3, they will take on the US national men’s team on June 7 before proceeding to Campinas, their World Cup team base in Brazil.