Keshi happy with BBC award nominations

Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, has opened up to supersport.com about his excitement to learn that John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are among the five shortlist for the 2013 BBC Africn Footballer of the Year.

On Monday, the BBC revealed its shortlist for this year via its Newsday programme. The three other shortlisted players are Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso, Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ivory Coast midfielder, Yaya Toure, who makes the shortlist for the fifth successive year.

Keshi, 51, said the nomination of Mikel and Moses shows that the African champions are now competing with the best on the continent.

He revealed how he spoke to the Super Eagles on resumption as head coach of the team two years ago on worming their ways into winning individual honours while balancing their ethics as team players at the same time.

"I'm hearing this for the first time. I've been busy preparing for the World Cup game against Ethiopia. But I'm happy to hear this and it is pleasant news for the players, the team and the nation. I hope one of them can win it.

"I must say this is a result of hard work, commitment and open-mindedness to learn and make sacrifices as individuals and as a team. When I became coach of the team I sat down with the boys and made it clear that they have the ability to be rated among the best players in not just Africa but the world. These boys already know much about the game and I'm sure I can't start teaching like small boys. I try as much as possible to make them feel like they are in a family which is important and it has worked well for us and that's why we have players being nominated for awards now. But it's down to the good work of the players, coaches and officials.

"Now I am confident that we are on the verge of good things to come once we continue with this same pace and I am happy that what we started two years ago is bearing fruits. I hope one of them will win the award this year," Keshi told supersport.com.

The 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year "winner will be decided by African football fans" through a voting process that will run till November 25, according to the BBC.

Austin Okocha was the last Nigerian to win the BBC award in 2004 after he had won it the previous year.

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