Mikel is too big for Chad game; Stephen Keshi explains

Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi has said that he left Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi out of his squad to prosecute his side's African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Chad saying he does't need the Chelsea midfielder for the game.

The Eagles coach in a parley with media debunked rumours about strained relationship with the former Flying Eagles, insisting he had talked about [his exclusion] with him.

Keshi also excluded Austin Ejide from the squad, and brought in Daniel Akpeyi instead.

Other noticeable players missing in the squad are Brown Ideye, Emmanuel Emenike, who lost his father recently, Osaze odemwingie, who spent most of last season nursing injury and some others.

"I decided not to bring him (Mikel) because right now I don't need him for this game. Mikel and I spoke. We talked about it and he said no problem,” Keshi told media.

"I told him we will talk for the September game.

“For Ejide, we are playing only a game now which is against Chad. So bringing in two foreign based goalkeepers is [uncalled for], I think I would rather give room to two local goalkeepers to go with captain [Vincent] Enyeama.

"If it were to be two games, I would have invited two foreign based goalkeepers. That actually informed my exclusion of Mikel and Austin Ejide.

"So with these three goalkeepers in camp it should be okay for the game. If we do not give them the room and opportunity to grow, when will they become Ejide or Vincent Enyeama or Emmanuel Okala?,” he concluded.

Nigeria are in the same group with Egypt, Tanzania and Chad for a ticket to participate in the 2017 Afcon championship in Gabon. Goal