Sofoluwe confident in local Nigerians

Former Nigeria captain Yisa Sofoluwe has backed the local players in the national squad to perform, when they meet Liberia in a friendly.

The new side made up mostly of players from the Nigeria Premier League are being promoted by coach Stephen Keshi as part of his future plans for the country after they failed to secure qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The side will play a friendly match against the Liberians on Wednesday, ahead of their 2013 AFCON qualification match against Rwanda on February 29.

“They should show their coach against Liberia that he does not need the foreign based players,” Shofoluwe told Goal.com.

“It is not their first time of playing and I believe they are prepared or they would not have been called by Keshi.”

The home-based Nigerian players are expected to play Monrovia before the foreign-based players will join them.

Sofoluwe added he believed Keshi should use the Liberia match as a developmental platform.

“The coach should use the Liberia friendly to determine where in the team he needs reinforcements instead of just inviting a lot of players from abroad,” he said.

“These our local players are strong and are ready to die for their country and that should be the criteria for invitation to any player.”

Keshi is yet to release the list of foreign players that will be invited for the game against Rwanda in Kigali.