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So much criticism has emerged since the release of the 23-man shortlist for the warm-up match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Mexico. The Eagles squad recently took a blow when one of the strikers invited, Bright Dike, was reported injured. The 27-year-old tore his Achilles tendon for the second time in three years during a Toronto FC training session on Monday. Dike, who was set to play for Nigeria against Mexico in a friendly on 5th March, wrote on Twitter that Monday was the “worst day of my life”. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Dike’s injury is a massive blow. “It is such a shame that we have lost a player of his calibre for the friendly against Mexico and possibly the World Cup,” NFF’s spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport. “Bright Dike is a top professional and a very humble guy. It is a blow for him personally, and for both his club Toronto FC and Nigeria.” MLS club Toronto FC issued a statement on Dike’s status on Monday evening, saying he “sustained a leg injury on Monday morning while practising with the team in Orlando, Florida. Dike, who has recently returned from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, scored his second goal in as many starts for the Super Eagles in November’s 2-2 friendly draw against Italy. His first international goal against Catalonia in January was not enough to earn him a place in the 2013 African Cup of Nations squad. But in November, Dike told BBC Sports that he would fight to force his way into Nigeria’s squad for the World Cup and he had earned his chance to impress after being called up by coach Stephen Keshi for next month’s friendly. Before now, Keshi had refused to call up more established and experience players like Osaze Odemwengie and Ike Uche, the latter most notable for his exploits in the Spanish la liga. The chief coach eventually came out citing that Ike Uche is indisciplined. This, from Keshi, is quite laughable knowing fully well that he was not managing a local club or a small country like Somalia. One would think that the top coaches are well paid to manage the stubborn players around. Truth be told, Ike Uche is no where near Mario Balotelli of Italy in terms of being indisciplined but he is very much in the first team of Ceasare Prandelli, the Azzurri’s coach, this is because he is the best around. There are other players like that spread all over the world that are being comfortably managed by their coaches. Keshi has to look beyond these side distractions and focus on what the player has got to offer. Nigeria needs her best legs around and we must use it to avoid the shambolic performance of the Eagles at the last Confederation’s Cup. And who will best replace Bright Dike than Ikechukwu Uche?

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This article was first published on 20th February 2014

obimartins

Martins Okafor is a Sports Writer for Connect Nigeria. He has been a sport buff for years, following stories and development in leagues and international competitions. His interest led him to writing stories – reporting on sporting events. He has superior interest in soccer, but knows much about other sports. He plans to have a blog and to advance in sport journalism. You can email him at: obimartins85 [at] gmail.com