Keshi okays Abuja stadium for Sudan

Nigeria will play Sudan in Abuja on October 15 after Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, rated the National Stadium highly at the end of an inspection tour he undertook yesterday.

According to Thisday, Keshi said the National Stadium was better than ever after he inspected the pitch and the dressing room.

He was accompanied on the inspection tour by Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, and the Director of Facilities, National Sports Commission (NSC).

Nigeria will meet Sudan over two legs next month and will host the north-Africans at the nation’s capital after first paying a visit to Omdurman on October 11.

The list of invited players for the Super Eagles double header against the Sudanese is expected to be released before the end of the week.

But after gauging his mood, it is clear that Keshi is not prepared to wean Manchester City’s talented youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho, for international baptism.

While conceding that Iheanacho is a gifted player, Keshi said the teenager lacked the maturity and experience to play full flight international football.

“At this moment, we should not rush Iheanacho into playing for the national team. He is a good player, but he is lacking the experience required at that level. We need to integrate him gradually as we did with Dele Alampasu and Taiwo Awoniyi, who were invited to camp during our preparation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa last year,” Keshi said.

He also disclosed he would not formalize a new contract as the national coach, until the new NFF Executive Committee is reconstituted at the Glasshouse after the board election that holds on September 30.