South Africa 2010: Lagerback lists six home-based for camping

A Nigerian team

Super Eagles coach Lars Lagerback named six home-based players in his 44-man list for camping ahead of the South Africa 2010 World Cup finals.

Nigeria, which will be featuring at the world‘s most glamorous sporting fiesta for the fourth time, is grouped in South Africa 2010 Group B alongside tournament favourites Argentina, Greece and South Korea.

The domestic league players are Bayelsa United goalkeeper Akpan Bassey, Lobi Stars defender Terna Suswan, Enyimba‘s Gabriel Reuben, Globacom Premier League highest scorer Ahmed Musa of Kano Pillars, Heartland‘s Bartholomew Ibenegbu and Kano Pillars‘ Solomon Okpako.

The long-forgotten Austria-based defender Rabiu Afolabi leads the list of the surprise inclusions consisting of Portsmouth John Utaka, FC Zurich‘s Onyekachi Okonkwo, Everton‘s Victor Anichebe, France-based Brown Ideye, who represented Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, Abedeen‘s Sone Aluko and 2007 U-17 World Cup winner Haruna Lukman of Monaco.

Esperance striker Michael Eneramo, who was dropped on the eve of the Eagles‘ departure for the Angola 2010 Nations Cup finals, was listed by Lagerback along with Sparta Rotterdam defender Dele Adeleye and US Boulogne‘s Olubayo Adefemi who were also surprisingly dropped by coach Shaibu Amodu from the tournament.

Joseph Yobo

Lagerback lived up to his promise to include veteran Portsmouth forward Nwankwo Kanu in his plans after the 33-year-old, who featured at the France‘98 and Korea‘ Japan 2002 World Cup finals, found a place in his 44-man list. The Swede also kept his promise to invite Denmark-based striker Peter Utaka and Italy-based defender Michael Odibe.

The Israel-based goalkeeping trio of Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba and Austin Ejide topped the foreign-based list which also has Taye Taiwo, Elderson Echiejile, Greg Etafia, Chidi Odiah, Onyekachi Apam, Joseph Yobo, Daniel Shittu, Sam Sodje, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Chinedu Obasi, Obafemi Martins, Femi Ajilore, Joseph Akpala, Ikechukwu Uche, Obinna Nsofor, Kalu Uche, Dickson Etuhu and Mikel Obi.

The rest are Sani Kaita, Yusuf Ayila, Osaze Odemwingie and Seyi Olofinjana. According to the Nigeria Football federation 1st Vice-President, Amanze Uchegulam, the inclusion of the six home-based players in the list will motivate the domestic league players.


Edited and adapted from: The Punch