I'll Play Chad Like Brazil - Keshi

 

Super Eagles Gaffer, Stephen Keshi, has shielded his invitation of 15 foreign based players for the team's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad on the premise that it would be suicidal underrating Chad.

The invitation of these players has generated furore with several commentators kicking against the move.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said last week that the federation would spend not less than N120 million to prosecute the match. The high cost the federation noted was as a result of the invitation of the 15 foreign based.

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But on Sunday, Keshi said that he would never underrate any team saying that he would prepare for Chad the way he would prepare against Brazil.

"Football is not what it used to be in the past when some teams are seen as underdogs. I have been hearing the comment some people are making that we can use, league players to play Chad. That's not right because I played against Chad when I was with Mali and they are strong. Most of their players are foreign-based," he said.

"We don't have any reason to underrate Chad. We are preparing very seriously just like we could do if we are to confront Brazil, France or any other country in the world."

He said that he could prosecute the match with home based players, but that, "the same Nigerians will say this man is insane. In what manner can he play with just neighborhood boys; what happened to the foreign-based players?