NIGERIA’S head coachStephen Keshi and captain Joseph Yobo’s history of misunderstanding dates back to the Super Eagles’ pre-2013 Africa Cup of Nations camp in Faro, Portugal.

Following an unconvincing performance in a friendly game against Cape Verde, Keshi had enquired from the medical crew the fitness level of Yobo.

Keshi, Tribunesport gathered, told the medical crew he was not impressed with the sentiment of long-service to the Eagles and would drop Yobo instantly if the player proved to be unfit for the Nations Cup.

Unluckily for Yobo, he got injured in Nigeria’s first game against Burkina Faso at AFCON 2013, confirming Keshi’s fears about his fitness.

“Keshi was unhappy with the team doctors and felt Yobo was passed fit for the tournament on account of personal relationship,’’ the source added.

However, a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had told Keshi that it would be charitable to help Yobo achieve a 100-match mark for Nigeria, a gesture Keshi felt should not take precedence over fitness and merit.

After Super Eagles’ third match at AFCON 2013 against Ethiopia, Yobo felt he could get his place back in the team but Keshi stuck to the Godfrey Oboabona-Kenneth Omeruo central defence combination.

“Yobo was not happy with the status of a non-playing captain and approached Keshi on it but the coach asked him to wait for his time,’’ the source told Tribunesport.

After winning the Nations Cup, Yobo re-opened the tussle with Keshi as both of them differed on the sharing formula of cash gifts showered on the team in appreciation of the win.



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