Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi and on-loan Liverpool forward Victor Moses have nothing to prove to Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi to  guarantee their  place in his World Cup squad, says  Atlanta ’96 gold medallist Joseph Dosu.

Although he Keshi  says that he is worried that the duo have become benchwarmers (substitute) in their clubs, he is determined to keep faith with the players who were vital and contributed hugely in Nigeria’s South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations   triumph.

“It’s quite unfortunate and unexpected that Mikel and Moses are not playing regularly for their clubs at the moment and I cannot apprehend that. I was also a victim of the same circumstance when I was playing in Belgium, but I still retained my place in the national team,”  Keshi  said at a media event in Lagos during the week.

“Mikel and Moses are not kids in this of game of football. So, they don’t need to be taught the principle of the  game. The truth is that I need them in the team because they’re quality players.”

Keshi’s stand on the two players was echoed by Dosu, who also praised Stoke City’s Osaze Odemwingie’s ineluctable return to the Eagles after two years in the international wilderness.

“Mikel and Moses are talented and great players  and they have nothing to prove,” the former Eagles goalkeeper told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“If the coach believes they should be in Brazil for the World Cup, I’m in support of their inclusion in our squad.

“If  Keshi  thinks they are not relevant to his plans, I will respect his decision.

“Mikel is not playing many games at Chelsea because his is competing for roles in the team with some of the best players in the world.

“If you pull him out of Chelsea and take him to a club like Arsenal, Fulham or Sunderland, he will be  playing regularly.

“He’s a word-class player who has nothing to prove to anyone. We know what he can do when he’s on the field.  And not playing regularly for his club doesn’t stop him from performing in Brazil.

“The  same thing is happening to Moses at Liverpool where there are good players.

“In 1994 (USA ’94 World Cup) we had four or five clubless players in our squad and they performed.”

 The former Julius Berger keeper praised Osaze for apologising  to Keshi after his Twitter rant against the Eagles manager.

“If Keshi has decided to forgive him and include him in his World Cup squad, I’m in support,” Dosu added.

“He’s still relevant to the national team. He has been performing for his club and I believe his experience will count in Brazil.”

However, the ex-Italy-based player  backed Keshi on his decision to leave Ikechukwu Uche out of his World Cup squad, saying  “he’s not indispensible”.

“If Keshi doesn’t want Uche, we should respect his decision,” Dosu said.

“We have given Keshi a job to do and we should not force any player on him. People should stop hammering on Uche because he’s not the only good player who will not be going to the World Cup.

“Coaches all over the world want players who will listen to them and carry out their instructions and I believe Keshi also wants players who will play to his instructions.”