Nigeria call up injured Mikel Obi for crucial qualifier

November 3, 2009

Nigeria have selected Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Kenya on November 14 in Nairobi.

Mikel missed Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying match at home to Mozambique last month as a result of the injury.

Russia-based right fullback Chidi Odiah has been reconsidered by coach Shuaibu Amodu after he was frozen out of the team’s last three matches.

Nigeria need to win in Kenya and hope Tunisia do not do so in Mozambique so as to finish top of Group Two and qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Greg Etafia (Moroka Swallows/RSA), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR)

Defenders: Onyekachi Apam (Nice/FRA), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes/FRA), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Taye Taiwo (Marseille/FRA), Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion/SUI), Danny Shittu (Bolton/ENG), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City/ENG), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Sani Kaita (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen/NED)

Strikers: Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg/GER), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth/ENG), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton/ENG), Michael Eneramo (Esperance/TUN), Victor Obinna (Malaga/SPA), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge/BEL)

LAGOS (AFP)

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