Africa Cup of Nations

Nigeria

Suleiman Yahaya Kwande: 'Nigeria didn't select best players'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 10 February 2014

Nigeria Football Federation board member Suleiman Yahaya Kwande admits that he was disappointed with the players who were selected for the African Nations Championship.

NFF board member Suleiman Yahaya Kwande has revealed that he did not agree with the squad that Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi selected for the African Nations Championship.

Nigeria reached the semi-finals of the competition that was held in South Africa, and while Kwande insists that he was impressed with their performance, he admits that he would have liked to have seen several different players feature for the Super Eagles.

Kwande told SportingLife: "I am impressed with the performance of the Eagles with it being Nigeria's first qualification for the Africa Nations Championship.

"And to come third in the competition is good, but I think that we could have done better knowing fully well that we have better players back home.

"Some of the boys that were brought to the tournament were not actually the best from the home front if we are to be honest with ourselves."

Nigeria lost to Ghana on penalties in the last four, before they came out on top in the third-place playoff against Zimbabwe.