Keshi moves to get back Anichebe

JULY 2, 2013 

Anichebe

Following the Super Eagles performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has moved to get Everton striker Victor Anichebe back to the team for a World Cup qualifier against Malawi in September.

In May Anichebe chose his English Premier League club ahead of the country after he was overlooked by Nigeria when he suffered a long-term injury while playing for the Super Eagles in 2011. Keshi who has not featured the striker since he took charge in 2011 is bothered about his team’s lack of firepower at the Confederations Cup and has thus initiated moves to get Anichebe to rescind his decision to stay away from the national team. After a 6-1 win over Tahiti characterised by several misses, Nigerian strikers were clearly wasteful in the following matches against Uruguay and Spain which the African champions lost by 2-1 and 3-0 respectively at the Brazil 2013 tournament which ended on Sunday.

A top official told MTNFootball.com, “Keshi has met with some NFF top officials and has asked that everything be done to convince Anichebe to return to the Eagles. This move may even involve Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi talking to the player to put the past behind him and come back to the team.”

Another official of the Federation told The PUNCH by the telephone on Monday that Keshi would make a firm statement soon on the development.

He said, “A clear statement will soon be made on Anichebe even as he (Keshi) prepares the team for the match against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday. A lot of progress has been made and we are very positive that the move will be very fruitful. A lot of ground work has been made already.”

The 25-year-old Anichebe featured for Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China after he made his debut for Samson Siasia’s team against South Africa in Abuja in March 2008.  He has won 11 full international caps and scored a goal.

A shin injury prevented him from making the Eagles final squad to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where the team’s strike force also failed the nation.

The big centre-forward has struggled with injuries, but last season he was virtually free of such complaints to finish with his highest ever tally of eight goals in 32 matches for Everton.