Super
Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has included Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo
and Kilmarnock midfielder Rueben Gabriel in his 25-man squad for the
second leg of the World Cup qualifying playoff against Ethiopia and a
friendly with Italy this month.
Omeruo, who was a key member of the
squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February,
has been out of the team after he dislocated his shoulder at the FIFA
Confederations Cup in Brazil in June.
Nigeria host the Walya Antelopes on
November 16 in Calabar and will face Italy two days later at Craven
Cottage, Fulham’s playing ground, in London.
The Italy game will be Keshi’s first friendly against a European team since he took charge of the Eagles in November 2011.
“It’s good for us that we can recall
Kenneth Omeruo and Rueben Gabriel for this crucial game and big friendly
against Italy,” Keshi was quoted by BBC Sport as saying on Sunday.
“The game against Ethiopia is very
important for the country and the players are all aware of what stands
before them and a place in Brazil.
“We need to prepare very hard tactically and technically so we can make the country and our fans proud.
“It’s very appropriate to describe the
game in Calabar as our biggest cup final because the one in South Africa
is now in the past.”
Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama tops the
list, while South Africa-based defender James Okwuosa, strikers Obinna
Nsofor and Uche Nwofor also keep their places.
The players are expected to resume camping in Calabar on November 11.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers)
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Braga,
Portugal); Benjamin Francis (Heartland); Efe Ambrose (Celtic); Solomon
Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey); Azubuike
Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); James Okwuosa (Chippa, South Africa); Kenneth
Omeruo (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea); Victor Moses (Liverpool); John Ogu (Academica, Portugal);
Ogenyi Onazi Lazio); Nnamdi Oduamadi
(Brescia, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers);
Reuben Gabriel (Kilmarnock)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv,
Ukraine); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle);
Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce); Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow); Uche
Nwofor (SC Heerenveen, Holland).
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