FOOTBALL:Mikel Obi, Obafemi Martins and 21 others make Super Eagles list for World Cup qualifiers next month

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Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has invited 23 players to the national team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland next month. He has handed a recall to Seattle Sounders frontman Obafemi Martins after more than two years absence, with his last appearance in a Super Eagles shirt coming against Kenya in a World Cup qualifier in March 2013.

The Super Eagles will tackle Swaziland in the first leg on November 13, while  the return leg is at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt four days later.


As expected, there was no place in the squad list for Fenerbahce loanee Emmanuel Emenike and Vincent Enyeama, who have both announced their international retirement after falling out of favour with the coach (Emenike denied this).

But  experienced duo of John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) and Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow) are among the players that will begin training at Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on November 8.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi is poised to make his competitive debut, which will tie him to Nigeria once and for all, as he is one of the 6 strikers listed.

List of Invited Players

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Dele Alampasu (Club de Sportivo Feirense, Portugal)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Kalu Orji (Enyimba FC); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders, USA)