ACTUALITE |
21.09.2001
Nigeria pick top stars for Japan friendly
LAGOS
Nigeria on Wednesday named their first-team squad, including out-of-favour Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro, for the friendly match against Japan in England on October 7.
Last week the "Super Eagles" fielded a second string side in two friendlies against South Korea to kick off their preparations for both the African Nations Cup and the World Cup next year.
Nigeria were held to a 2-2 draw by their hosts in the first game and lost the other match 2-1.
Babayaro has been recalled by Nigeria after he fell out with the authorities over unpaid allowances and bonuses from the Sydney Olympics last year.
"Nwankwo Kanu has spoken with Babayaro and we have also put in a word or two for him to have a change of heart and play for the country again," Nigeria`s coach Shaibu Amodu told AFP.
Babayaro, who last played for his country in January against Sudan, will, however, have to fight for his place in the team after stand-in Ifeanyi Udeze of Greek outfit Salonika impressed at left back.
Another defender who has been called up to prove himself with the star-studded Nigerian team is Emeka Ifejiagwa of German side Wolfsburg.
The big central defender has been overlooked since the World Cup qualifier in Accra against Ghana in March after Eric Ejiofor, from local league champions Enyimba, paired with Taribo West in the heart of defence.
Officials said the 18-man squad will get together in London by October 5 for the match billed for the brand new Saint Mary Stadium in Southampton.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Ike Shorunmu (no club), Murphy Akanji (Sliema Wanderers/Mal)
Defenders: Taribo West (AC Milan/Ita), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea/Eng), Eric Ejiofor (Enyimba FC/Ngr), Emeka Ifejiagwa (Wolfsburg/Ger), Joseph Yobo (Marseille/Fra), Ifeanyi Udeze (Salonika/Gre)
Midfielders: Sunday Oliseh (Borussia Dortmund/Ger), Austin `Jay Jay` Okocha (Paris Saint-Germain/Fra), Karibe Ojigwe (Bayer Leverkusen/Ger), Garba Lawal (Roda JC/Ned)
Forwards: Tijjani Babangida (Vitesse Arnhem/Ned), Finidi George (Ipswich/Eng), Victor Agali (Schalke 04/Ger), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Maccabi Haifa/Isr), Julius Aghahowa (Shakhtar Donetsk/Ukr), Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal/Eng)
|
|
Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
|
|
|
|
| |