Keshi needs Ike Uche, Odemwingie – Adepoju

Former Nigeria midfielder Mutiu Adepoju says coach Stephen Keshi needs to include experienced forwards Ikechukwu Uche and Peter Odemwingie in his squad in order to have a balanced team at the World Cup.

After watching the international friendly match between the Super Eagles and Mexico that ended goalless, Adepoju concluded that the Big Boss needs the duo to have a complete squad.

While Uche last played for the Super Eagles in the final match of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Odemwingie has not been called up to the national team since he had an open falling out with former coach Samson Siasia and the Nigeria Football Federation in 2012.

“My dear friend Stephen Keshi needs to forgive the boy, Ike Uche and bring him back into the team for the 2014 World Cup preparations,” Adepoju who played alongside Keshi in the Golden Team of 1994 told Goal.

“Ike Uche has really done well in his club to deserve a call up. Keshi can re-assess him in the other friendly matches the Eagles will play.

“I will be happy if he can extend invitations to Osaze Odemwingie too now that he is also doing well with his club in England.

“I want Keshi to temper justice with mercy in the interest of Nigerian football. We must go to the World Cup with our best legs,” he declared.

The former General Manager of Shooting Stars also scored the performance of the four new players invited by Keshi for the Mexico friendly high in the match.

“The newly invited players – Michael Uchebo, Ramon Azeez, Isaac Imoh and defender Leon Balogun – are good players but they still need to play more friendly matches with the team to be able to blend with the team on ground.

“To the best of my knowledge I think has a team on ground and he is just looking for a few to beef up the grey areas in the team. So it depends on which areas or positions in the team Keshi wants to beef up.

“But to me it’s the forward and the midfield that need to be worked on. So I think the inclusion of Ike Uche would definitely solidify the team while Osaze’s return to the team will add quality to the team. These players are in rich form for their respective clubs,” Adepoju said.