17th May, 2012
Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi has dropped Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie of West Brom and Blackburn’s Yakubu Aiyegbeni from the list of players invited for next week’s friendly against Peru and Nigeria’s next World and Nations Cup qualifying matches.
The Nigerian manager however gave former Eagles winger, John Utaka another chance in the list of 11 foreign-based players, who would complement 11 other players drawn from the Nigeria Premier League, NPL for the upcoming games.
In the list made available to P.M.Sports in Abuja this afternoon, first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama staged a return to the team with Austine Ejide; Efe Ambrose; Joseph Yobo and Elderson Echiejile.
Wigan’s Victor Moses; Sone Aluko and Fegor Ogude, who posed a stellar performance against Argentina in an international friendly game, Ikechukwu Uche and Ahmed Musa were also invited by Keshi.
The former coach of Mali and Togo, said Mikel and the other players dropped from today’s list would not be needed for now, but he would consider them for future engagements.
—Francis Achi/Abuja