Keshi Got Carried Away By AFCON Success - Taribo West

Taribo West claims Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi let success go to his head after he sensationally guided the Super Eagles to a third Africa Cup of Nations triumph in South Africa last year – and paid the price for “feeling very relaxed”.

Keshi, who captained the Eagles to victory at the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations, capped off a successful year (2013) by helping Nigeria seal their place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Following the South Africa 2013 success, the former Anderlecht defender became the second man in history to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach after Mohamed El Gohary of Egypt.

And Taribo, who has expressed his disappointment with Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, maintains Keshi would have sustained success by helping the Eagles book their ticket to the continental football showpiece if he hadn’t abandoned his coaching philosophy.

The Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games gold medallist fired a broadside at the players for the country’s 2-2 draw against South Africa in their Equatorial Guinea 2015 Group A qualifier in Uyo on November 19. The result ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching Equatorial Guinea, as Congo picked up the group’s second ticket along with South Africa, who had sealed qualification for the competition after beating Sudan 2-1 in Durban on November 15.

“Keshi let success go to his head and the result is that we won’t be defending our title in Equatorial Guinea next year,” Taribo, who represented Nigeria at the USA ’94 and France ’98 World Cups, told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“When he started, he was hungry for success, hence he went for the home-based players who were equally hungry for success, and he was not bothered by the criticism over his decisions.

“The home-based players played a major role in our winning the Africa Cup of Nations last year.

“But Keshi felt very relaxed after winning the tournament. He changed and began to rely on (some) foreign-based players who are not good enough for the national team.

“Keshi should have continued with his policy. He should have invited more home-based players for the qualifiers.”

The ex-Eagles defender said, “The majority of the players are not ready to play football. Against South Africa, there was no tenacity and aggressiveness in our play. There was no bite upfront.

“(Azubuike) Egwekwe let us down. He should take the blame for the first goal. He opened the right side to expose the goalkeeper (Vincent Enyeama). I didn’t expect such a mistake from a player who has been in the national team for some time.

“(Kenneth) Omeruo committed a defensive blunder that could cost a player his career. He’s a good defender but he should have been rested for the game because he was not fit.

“Juwon (Oshaniwa) is a strong player but he gets confused each time he receives the ball.

“We need better defenders in the national team. I believe we can find good defenders in the domestic league if we search for them.”

Taribo said, “Mikel is a good player but we need to get the best out of him. He needs competition in his role and we must look for a player who can keep him on his toes.”