Hull City midfielder Seyi Olofinjana was the only notable omission from new coach Lars Lagerback’s first Nigeria squad - the 30-man provisional team announced Monday. Notable inclusions for the Super Eagles were captain Nwankwo Kanu, star midfielder John Obi Mikel, as will as a deep force of attackers featuring Chinedu Obasi, Obafemi Martins, Peter Odemwingie and Yakubu Ayegbeni.
Olofinjana Omission Only Surprise Of Lagerback’s First Nigeria Squad
Olofinjana, a defensive midfielder, was with Nigeria at January’s Cup of African Nations in Angola, where the Super Eagles made the semifinals before losing to Ghana. Olofinjana, however, played a minor role in the tournament and has now failed to maintain his place in the team despite the increased size of the provisional squad.
This was the first team selected by new coach Lars Lagerback, who replaced Shiabu Amodu shortly after the Cup of Nations. Lagerback had coached Sweden in each of the last two World Cups but resigned from his country’s national team after failing to qualify them for the 2010 finals.
With Nigeria, has has selected an attack-heavy team that leverages the country’s depth at forward. However, a lackluster Super Eagle performance at the Cup of Nations exposed poor goalkeeping, a lack of organization in defense, and no creativity in the midfield.
Lagerback will have friendlies against Saudi Arabia (May 25) and Colombia (May 30) to address those problems before having to cut his roster down to 23 men, with Nigeria to face Argentina to open their World Cup on June 12.
Nigeria National Team Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Bassey Akpa (Bayelsa United)
Dele Ayenugba (Beni Yehuda)
Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikvah)
Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Defenders
Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rottendam)
Rabio Afolabi (SV Salzburg)
Onyekachi Apam (Nice)
Elderson Ediejile (Rennes)
Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow)
Danny Shittu (Bolton)
Terna Suswan (Lobi Stars)
Taye Taiwo (Marseille)
Joseph Yobo (Everton)
Midfielders
Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev)
Dickson Etuhu (Fulham)
Sani Kaita (Alania Vladikavkaz)
Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
Haruna Lukman (Monaco)
John Obi Mikel (Chelsea)
Kalu Uche (Almeria)
Forwards
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton)
Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux)
Uche Ikechukwa (Real Zaragoza)
Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg)
Obinna Nsofor (Malaga)
Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim)
Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow)
John Utaka (Portsmouth)
Peter Utaka (Odense)
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