Fresh from losing to Columbia, the Nigerian football federation and the head coach of the Nigerian super eagles Shaibu Amodu has decided to recall exiled midfield wonder Mikel obi of Chelsea into the fold of the super eagles.
Obi was suspended from the Nigerian national football team, the super eagles, indefinitely following his seemingly lack of interest in national duties.
The Nigerian midfielder, who has been recalled to the Nigeria squad following Head Coach Shuaibu Amodu’s decision to use the match to measure each player’s performance before the African Cup of Nation’s qualifiers slated for March 28, joins a strong squad of 24 players for an international friendly match aginst Jamaica in London on February 11.
Mikel, a regular for Chelsea football club following an injury to Ghanaian Micheal Essien, has not played for the Super Eagles since the African Nations Cup last February.
The welcome back card was not only sent to the highly rated Chelsea star. Also earning recalls are fellow midfielders Paul Obiefule of Lyn Oslo and Dinamo Kyiv’s Yusu Ayila. Esperance striker Michael Eneramo, who is being courted by Tunisia, was called up to the squad but there was no place for Newcastle’s Obafemi Martins, Christian Obodo or Chinedu Obasi. But there was a chance for Olympic silver medallist Adefemi Olubayo to stake a claim for the right back spot.
Reasons for not including Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke of TSG Hoffenheim, Beijing 2008 Olympics star on the list are yet to be given by Coach Shuaibu Amodu.
Goalkeepers
Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Dele Aiyenugba
Defence
Daniel Shittu, Joseph Yobo, Obinna Nwaneri, Taiye Taiwo, Chidi Odiah, Adeleye Ayodele, Onyekachi Apam, Olubayo Adefemi.
Midfield
John Mikel Obi, Kalu Uche, Paul Obiefule, Sani Kaita, Seyi Olofinjana, Femi Ajilore, Yusuf Ayila
Strikers
Nwankwo Kanu, Ikechukwu Uche, Obinna Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Joseph Akpala, Michael Eneramo
