Keshi blasts IK Uche: 'He ignored invitation to play for Super Eagles'

Head coach of the Nigeria national team Stephen Keshi has revealed that he invited Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche for Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Congo but that the 32-year-old turned down the invitation SuperSports understands.

Keshi famously left out the forward from his list of players that represented Nigeria at the 2014 Fifa World Cup despite widespread calls for his inclusion.

The Nigeria coach has now revealed that he invited the forward for the upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

“Well, Ikechukwu Uche his name was originally on the list (for both games) but he said he needed somebody to speak with him, maybe to beg him or something before he can come.

“And I said I cannot do that so I had to change Ike with somebody else,” Keshi told journalists during a press conference in Calabar.

Nigeria will now face Congo in Calabar without the striker.