Nigeria’s coach Keshi, Mikel blame American referee for loss to France.
USAfricaonline.com, CLASSmagazine, and USAfrica multimedia networks, Houston. Follow USAfrica at Facebook.com/USAfricaChido , Facebook.com/USAfrica247 and Twitter.com/Chido247
USAfrica: Nigeria’s former soccer star and current coach, Stephen Keshi, has blamed Mark Geiger, the American referee for losing 2-0 to France, earlier today. 
Like many others who watched the game and reflecting the views of the majority of persons interviewed by USAfricaonline.com, Keshi was unhappy with the fact that France’s Olivier Giroud deliberately hit Nigeria’s star player Mikel John Obi with an elbow within view of the referee and he could not as much as give Giroud a yellow card.
Mikel assessed the situation involving Giroud, noting: “I got an elbow and the referee saw it and he only gave him a warning, not even a yellow card, nothing. It was bad. We know the game – if you see it, act on it. The ref saw it. He did catch me. I don’t know if it was too hard but the intention was definitely there. I don’t think he is a dirty player. Everyone wants to win for his country. He hasn’t done those sort of things before so maybe it was just one of those things in the heat of the moment.”
Keshi is blunt in stating “I am not happy with the officiating because Onazi, on two occasions, he had a very bad tackle and nothing was done by the referee. I think the referee was just … for me, I think he was biased. This is the first time I will speak about [a] referee in my life as a coach but it wasn’t good.” He continued that “If you look at
the goal we scored, I don’t think there was any infringement. The referee is a human being, bound to make some mistakes, but a lot of mistakes is questionable. I am not happy about it but he’s the man who decides whatever goes on the pitch.”
Nigeria’s World Cup team to Brazil 2014 had 23 players, in the following categories:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim
Defenders: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose and Kunle Odunlami
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo and Reuben Gabriel
Strikers: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses and Uche Twofer
Despite the flagrant elbow attack on Mikel, he did not perform optimally during the knockout round of 16 teams, in this instance against France.
Also, goalkeeper Enyeama parried a shot to the striking range of the French that allowed them the opportunity for a goal.
Overall, Keshi deserves commendation; and it would have been a better championship outing if they made it to the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals…. By Chido Nwangwu
