Sports 2014 World Cup: players can bring their wives but no girlfriends - Stephen Keshi

[Chris Maduewesi]

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has given his green-light that his players can come with their spouses for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

There has been an ongoing debate whether Nigerian players should be allowed to travel to Brazil with their partners for the World Cup,with some arguing that it could be a source of distraction to the team.

Keshi noted that he will welcome those with their legitimate wives and fiancees,but he will not allow 'girlfriends' as he was not sure of the players properly managing the situation.

“Players can bring their wives and fiancees to the World Cup. But I don’t know about girlfriends,” Keshi said in Lagos on Tuesday.

"I don't have a problem with that but it will be up to the players to decide if they want to bring their wives," Keshi said adding "but no girlfriends."

Earlier this year,member of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Paul Bassey disagreed with the mooted idea,stating that the team's performance might be impeded with the presence of their wives and girlfriends.

“It is important for the coach to maintain a serious environment during the World cup as allowing wives and girlfriends may affect the performance of the team. If he wants to get the full complement of his squad or the starting eleven for each game then he should not allow such in camp. Nigeria is not ripe enough to afford the players such opportunities,” Bassey said on a local Radio Station,Top Radio 90.9 FM.