Overseas-based players still relevant,KESHI

Stephen Keshi,coach of the super eagles insists his foreign players are still very relevant to his plans, despite the increased training and utilisation of players in the Nigerian Premier League for national assignments. There have been increasing calls for Keshi to turn to locally-based players following the recent unconvincing run of the Super Eagles, despite the heavy reliance on the largely Europe-based contingent. The calls have grown louder with the good showing of the domestic Eagles in friendly games against the likes of Zambia and Egypt as well as the recent 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with Rwanda. But Keshi, who has overseen the growing exposure of the home-based Eagles, believes every Nigerian player in good form should be factored into the team's plans. "It will be foolhardy of us to quickly say that we won't use our players who are based abroad in the national team anymore.� Keshi told Supersport.com. "We won't ignore any player doing well whether he plays here (in Nigeria) or plays abroad. But so far such a player is ready to give his best when called up to the team." Keshi expressed belief that the local players were capable of improving further, but cautioned that the rebuilding programme was still very much a work in progress. With the European season drawing to a close and Nigeria facing three consecutive competitive games against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda in the first three weeks of June, it is unclear how Keshi intends to tackle the challenge.