Keshi Names Squad For Flames Test

Stephen Keshi

Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has called up 42 players ahead of September’s 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Malawi.
Eighteen of the players called up by Keshi are based abroad while 24 domestically-based players were also invited for the game which holds on September 7.
The 18 players based outside Nigeria will automatically make the final squad of 23 which is expected to be ratified in the coming days.
Explaining the rationale behind the bloated nature of the squad, Keshi said the decision was informed by the need to “identify new players for the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan)

“We are calling up 24 home boys in order to be able to identify new players for the 2014 African Nations Championship, for which we have already qualified,” said Keshi.
Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Sunday Mba, Muhammad Gambo and Godfrey Oboabona were all included in the squad made public on Tuesday night.
After sitting out last week’s friendly win against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, assistant captain, Vincent Enyeama returns while Austin Ejide who deputised for the Lille goalkeeper with distinction also gets a call-up for the crunch game against the Flames.
Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa and Brown Ideye were also called up for the encounter.

LIST OF HOME-BASED PROFESSIONALS
Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland)

Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Benjamin Francis (Heartland); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Chibuzor Okonkwo (Enugu Rangers); Yinka Adedeji (Sharks); Ganiyu Ogungbe (Kwara United)

Midfielders: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers); Solomon Jabason (Akwa United); Olufemi Oladapo (3SC); Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Moses Orkuma (Lobi Stars)

Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Ifeanyi Ede (Enyimba); Ezekiel Mba (Akwa United); Nanen Imenger (Lobi Stars); Izu Azuka (Sunshine Stars); Stanley Dimgba (Kwara United); Osadaiye Joseph (Warri Wolves)

LIST OF FOREIGN-BASED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); James Okwuosa (Chippa United, South Africa)

Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea FC, England); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Uche Nwofor (VVV-Venlo, Netherlands)