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Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi must resist pressure from the Nigeria Football Federation to  pick players he doesn’t need for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, says former Nigeria midfielder Edema Fuludu.

Keshi   is said to be  under  severe pressure from the  NFF  to name in-form Schalke 04 winger Chinedu Obasi,  on-loan Norwich defender Joseph Yobo,   Villarreal  forward Ikechukwu Uche and Stoke City forward Osaze Odemwingie  in his 23-man squad for the tournament.  Some officials of the football house are also said to be against the   likes of Dynamo Kyiv  striker Brown Ideye, Varese attacker Nnamdi Oduamadi  and Newcastle’s  Shola Ameobi  making the trip to Brazil.

But Tunisia’94  Africa Cup of Nations winner Fuludu advised  his ex-Eagles teammate not to yield to pressure from the NFF or the media,  saying the former Togo manager must stick to his guns.

According to the former Turkey-based attacker, Keshi must not sacrifice his footballing principles to please anyone.

 “The selection for the World Cup should be solely Keshi’s decision,”  the retired player told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“If we force   players  on him it means we are practically telling him (Keshi) that he can fail in Brazil.

“Elsewhere the buck stops with the coach. If Keshi offers  a convincing reason why he doesn’t want  a particular player, the NFF should respect his decision and support him.

“Keshi should stick to his plans for the World Cup and must not bow to pressure to take  the players he doesn’t believe in because those putting him under pressure will not be blamed if he fails in Brazil.

“We should go to Brazil with  players who are consistent performers  in their clubs. Osaze, Uche and Obasi are currently doing well in their clubs and they deserve to make our World Cup squad. But Keshi should be allowed to decide who goes to Brazil or not.”

 He added, “I believe Keshi will rely on the players who helped him win the Africa Cup of Nations  in South Africa and those who helped him  a ticket to the World Cup last year. They  will be loyal and obey him.

 “And he would want to satisfy  secure the pressure group bent on having an  input in the World Cup squad.

“There’s always pressure when selecting players for tournaments in Nigeria.

“It happened during our preparation for the USA ’94 World Cup. I was playing very well but there was pressure on the coach (Clemens Westerhof) to pick only foreign-based players for the competition.

“I was playing in the domestic league and I had nobody to fight for me.”

Fuludu backed the Eagles to make an impact in Brazil, saying “we have talented players”.

The former NNB and Julius Berger  star urged the players to believe in themselves and strive to win the competition.