A former Green Eagles winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka, on Wednesday hailed Coach Stephen Keshi’s inclusion of three home-based players in his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil.

Amiesimaka, a 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner with the national team, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

He said, “I give credit to Stephen Keshi for being bold enough to include home based players in our team, because I know that left to many Nigerians they would have preferred him taking only players that ply their trade abroad.”

Amiesimaka, who played for Rangers International of Enugu and Sharks of Port Harcourt, added that more is needed to be done to enhance the profile of the domestic league.

He said, “The fact of the matter is we should all acknowledge that the domestic league still has a long way to go. There seems to be improvement made by Nduka Irabor and I commend and congratulate him for that. I think he is making some improvements but we still have a long way to go.”

The Super Eagles will open their account at the tournament on June 16 against of Iran at Curitiba. The Eagles are in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Iran.

(PUNCH)