Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has sensationally left out Ike Uche from the 2014 World Cup, thus making good his earlier statements that the Villareal forward would not make the flight to Brazil. Keshi however selected Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie on a provisional squad released on Tuesday after the meeting he held with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim also made the list. The decision to include or drop Uche, Agbim, Yobo and Osaze was reportedly central during the first meeting held last month on the provisional squad. It was said that while the Technical Committee members were not too disposed to Agbim being in the squad, they wanted Keshi to include Uche whom he had publicly denounced. No agreement could be reached on Yobo and Osaze. The meeting was eventually adjourned to yesterday.
Uche, the leading Nigerian scorer this season has scored 12 goals in the Spanish league and he is regarded as one of the Super Eagles most reliable strikers. But in rejecting him, Keshi said he was not tactically disciplined. Uche has not played for Nigeria since featuring at the 2013 Africa Cup Nations which the country won in South Africa.
Agbim was in goal for Nigeria at the 2014 Africa Nations Championship and was largely criticised for his performance which fell far below expectations. He was eventually dropped by his club Rangers but has picked up with Gombe United in the Nigerian league.
Joel Obi of Parma is making a return to the national team. He has not played for Nigeria since Keshi took over in November 2011 largely due to injuries and fitness challenge. Ukraine-based striker Brown Ideye has been left after he struggled to impress especially at the FIFA Confederations Cup last year. Chinedu Obasi, who some fans of the team had tipped, did not make the list and also Germany-based defender Leon Balogun, who got injured in his first match for Nigeria, a March 5 friendly against Mexico, did not make the list.
The revelation of CHAN 2014, Ejike Uzoenyi expectedly made the squad.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille/FRA), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva/ISR), Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United), Daniel Akpeyi (Warri Wolves).
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco/FRA), Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC/SCO), Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor/TUR), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough/ENG), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC/ISR), Joseph Yobo (Norwich City/ENG), Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars).
Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio/ITA), Ramon Azeez (Almeria/SPA), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Gabriel Reuben (Beveren/BEL), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis/SPA), Joel Obi (Parma/ITA), Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge/BEL), Sunday Mba (CA Bastia/FRA).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United/ENG), Victor Moses (Liverpool/ENG), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce/TUR), Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona/ITA), Osaze Odemwingie (Stoke City/ENG), Babatunde Michael (Volyn/UKR), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese/ITA), Uche Nwofor (Herenveen/NED).
Nigeria will announce a final 23-man squad on June 2, the NFF officials have said. The provisional squad will depart Abuja on May 25 for London ahead of the warm-up match against Scotland.
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