Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo has claimed that he will be surprised as everyone if he gets a call from the national team for the upcoming World Cup 2014. Taiwo has been out of the national team reckoning for the last two years now. Despite being one of the established players for the national team, manager Stephen Keshi has been unwilling to call him for the national team. The former AC Milan player has almost given up hope of representing Nigeria once again. The provisional Nigerian squad for the World Cup 2014 will be announced by Keshi next week.
Taiwo says that it is highly unlikely that he will be even in this provisional squad. Since making his debut in 2004, the defender has made more than 50 appearances for the national team. He has represented Nigeria at the World Cup 2010. However, he says that the fact that Nigeria have been incredibly successful in the last few years – by winning the African cup of nations and qualifying comfortably for the World Cup 2014 – makes it difficult for him to get into the squad.
The 28-year-old is currently playing with Turkish outfit Bursaspor, which further limits his opportunities to get into the squad. However, he says that he has still not retired from international action and will always be available.
“I played at the last World Cup, but this one will be very difficult to be a part of. I’ve been out of the set-up for over two years so I am rather pessimistic than optimistic this time around. Without me playing a part, Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations and qualified for the World Cup, so realistically my chances of making it are very slim. I’ve not retired from the national team, so I will always make myself available for selection,” said Taiwo.