Yobo’s comments on home-based players stir controversy

Should the captain of a team openly lay blames on his colleagues?

Won’t it cause discontentment, disaffection and disenchantment in the squad?

Well, Super Eagles’ skipper, Joseph Yobo, has pleaded with Coach Stephen Keshi to change the squad’s defensive formation before the team’s Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifiers against the Lone Stars of Liberia next month.

Yobo told the media moments after his meeting with the Nigeria Football Association that he had been battling to understand the home-based trio of Juwon Oshanuwa, Godfrey Obabona and Azubuike Egwueke, who have been partnering him in defence since Keshi took over the team from Samson Siasia.

Yobo, who praised the form and performance of the home-based defenders in the team so far, noted that it would have been better if the coach had two foreign-based players for their experience.

 “…being the only foreign-based player in the Eagles’ defence gives me much pressure now. We are playing abroad and they are here, sometimes you find it difficult to adjust. This is very obvious.

“The players I play with are good players, no doubt, but it can be difficult playing with players you are not familiar with.”