Keshi snubs Yobo again, invites 30 players

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has invited a total of 30 players for the team’s hectic mid-year schedule with the team captain Joseph Yobo still missing from the list. The Fenerbahce defender was not called for the match against Kenya last month – a development that brought about a public spar between the player and the coach.

The Nigeria Football Federation officials though has moved to settle the rift between them.

But while Yobo has still not been recalled, South Africa 2013 top scorer Emmanuel Emenike is back to the fold. He was also not called for the match in Calabar against Kenya but on account of the injury he sustained at the semi-final stage of the Africa Cup of Nations. Midfielder Kalu Uche also returns after 16 months on the sideline.

A notable fresh inclusion is Anthony Ujah who stars for FC Cologne of Germany. The striker is actually on loan to Cologne from Mainz of France.

The Eagles have a busy schedule of about 10 matches between the end of May and mid-July. The African champions have an international friendly against CONCACAF champions Mexico in Houston, Texas, USA on the last day of May, before two World Cup qualifying matches in Nairobi and Windhoek. Those games are billed to hold just before the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil.

Nigeria will play Tahiti, Uruguay and Spain in Brazil in the first round of the Confederations Cup. They will return to Africa for a 2014 African Nations Championship qualifying fixture against Cote d’Ivoire. The African Championship is strictly for African-based league players.

In all, there are four goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and 11 strikers.

The delegation of 12 home-based players and staff will depart Abuja for the training camp in Nuremberg, Germany on May 15 while the overseas-based professionals are expected to join the team in Germany later.

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland, Nigeria)

Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic, Scotland); Elderson Echiejile (Braga, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Ebenezer Odunlami (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Benjamin Francis (Heartland, Nigeria); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga, Norway); John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria); Sunday Mba (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Emeka Ezeh (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Michael Babatunde (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AS Varese 1910, Italy); Anthony Ujah (Cologne, Germany); Kalu Uche (Kasimpasa, Turkey); Gomo Onduku (Sharks, Nigeria); Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland, Nigeria); Gambo Mohammed (Kano Pillars, Nigeria).