Nigeria should come first – keshi.

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The dispute betweenNigeriaand clubs in the professional ranks over players ahead of the Federation cup semifinals took a new twist on Wednesday.

Nigeriahead Coach, Stephen Keshi, has taken a swipe at the clubs for seeking the release of their star players ahead of the earlier scheduled August 15 cup semi billed to hold in Calabar andIlorin.

Keshi stated that he doesn’t understand how a team that registered more than 30 players are asking for the release of just two or three out of their entire squad. Why can’t they play without these two or three players?

Coincidentally, the Super Eagles are also lined up to faceNigerRepublic’s mena in an international friendly game at the stade General Seyi Kountche in Niamy on August 15.

Heartland and Kano Pillars had been in the forefront of seeking the release of their stars for the cup semis.

Cup holders, Heartland, billed to face Prime Fc atIlorin, have goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Benjamin and Kabiru Umar in the Super Eagles camp inAbuja.

The fourth Heartland player, Obinna Nwachukwu was recently released for carrying an injury. He was replaced by Keshi with Crown Femi Ajayi. Gabriel Reuben, Umar Zango and Papa Idris, who all played key roles in ensuring that Kano Pillars reached cup semis, are also in the Eagles camp.

Lobi stars meanwhile have Tony Okpotu in the under 20 camp as Prime has the liberty of not being disturbed by the National teams.

However, the good news that filtered in from the NFF meeting on Wednesday evening indicated that the clubs prevailed when NFF decided to shift the date of the semis to 22nd of August.