Siasia rules out Yak, Martins’ immediate Eagles’ return

Siasia

Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Samson Siasia, has ruled out the possible return of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins despite their outstanding showing last weekend in Europe.
Speaking on the invitation to appear before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee to defend his team list against Guinea, Siasia said: “I have not seen any part of the world, where senior national team coaches appear to defend team list. However, I will only appear before the committee on Tuesday, but as for the unveiling of the list, I don’t really know. Maybe, it will be after the defence,” he noted.

He also took time to shower encomium on Nigerian players who showed blistering form in Europe last weekend, admitting that he was happy to see many of them on the scoring sheet.

On the possibility of the return of the like Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins to the Eagles fold, Siasia tactically noted that if they would return, it would not be immediate.
“I’m very happy for those that scored. It is good for the country and we have to celebrate their forms. As for their invitation to the Eagles, I think it may not be now,” he noted.

He, however, promised to take up the 2.00pm hostile kick-off timing for the African Nations Cup crucial tie between the Super Eagles and visiting Syli National of Guinea with the Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou.

Reacting to the controversial directive by the African soccer ruling body to start the group matches simultaneously, the Eagles boss said though it would be among the things he would discuss during the meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical Committee today, he would however make telephone call to the CAF boss to convince him to approve 7.00pm kick-off time.
The Eagles coach further argued that since it is only the two countries jostling for the ticket in the group, the timing should be made suitable to the two teams, insisting that other countries in the group have nothing at stake.
“The timing is very wrong and we must do every possible to change it. It is one of the things, I will discuss with the technical committee.

But, besides that, I will personally call Issah Hayatou to discuss it with him. Since the two teams, Nigeria and Guinea, fighting for the ticket in the group that would play, why should they compel us to play the game at 2.00pm?”
The former Eagles’ striker, who expressed disappointment over his continued appearance before the technical committee to defend his Eagles list, argued that there was no country in the world where senior national team coaches appear before the federation committee to defend his invited players