NO CAUSE FOR YOBO ALARM

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said there is no cause for alarm in the absence of skipper Joseph Yobo just as Mikel Obi joined up on Wednesday.

“There is no panic over Yobo’s injury, we are just motivated to secure the ticket to South Africa 2013,” Keshi assured.

Keshi revealed that the medical team at Turkish side Fernabahce have ruled him out of the match against Liberia with a torn cruciate ligament and have put him on medical examination to determine whether he could travel to Nigeria to cheer the team to victory.

Yobo’s knee is swollen after he played 70 minutes for his Turkish side at the weekend

According to the Eagles coach, Yobo, spent over one hour on phone with him to confirm he will not be available for this weekend’s crucial tie against the Lone Star of Liberia.

 “If the medical team in Turkey clears him, we should be expecting Yobo on Friday, for the Saturday game.,” said the Nigeria coach.
“Our hearts go out to him and his family and at this point we want to say his health is most important to us because we will still need him soon for the Nations Cup proper and the World Cup qualifiers.

“We know he loves to play games like this, that was why he was shedding tears but we have assured him that capable replacement will help secure the tick]et to South Africa 2013 Nations Cup.”

Yobo’s deputy and first-choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has thus stepped up as skipper in the absence of the influential centre back.