Brazil 2014: Yobo, Osaze in, Uche out
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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