The Super Eagles of Nigeria have their team of 23 picked for South Africa after new coach Lars Lagerback named the country's final squad on Monday.
Nigeria Finalizes 2010 World Cup Squad
In one of the first crucial decisions Lagerback has had to make since being appointed coach of Nigeria in late February, the former Swedish national team coach cut seven players from his preliminary squad. Although there were a couple of notable player amongst those he left off the final team, there were no major surprises amongst the players appointed to the squad.
Amongst those cut are Victor Anichebe and Ike Uche. Anichebe returned to the Everton lineup in the second half of the English Premier League season, having recovered from injury. His play for the Toffees has earned him a spot on the provisional roster despite just five international caps. On Monday, he was cut from the team along with Uche, who is still coming back from an October knee injury suffered with Real Zaragoza.
Also cut by Lagerback: Peter Utaka, Onyekachi Apam, Brown Ideye, Bassey Akpan and Terna Suswan.
Mikel John Obi makes the final roster despite having suffered a knee injury late in his season with Chelsea. He will be a key figure in a Nigerian midfield that also features Kalu Uche of Almería, Ike's younger brother, as well Fulham's Dickson Etuhu. Rounding out the midfield are Ayila Yussuf (Dynamo Kyiv), Sani Kaita (Alania Vladikavkaz), and Lukman Karuna (Monaco).
Nigeria has a wealth of talent at forward, including the likes of Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton) and Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg). Lagerback has also selected John Utaka (Portsmouth) and Victor Obinna (Málaga) to join Nwankwu Kanu (Portsmouth), who - at 33-years-old - will serve as captain during his third World Cup.
In defense, Lagerback's most notable names are Joseph Yobo (Everton) and Taye Taiwo (Marseille) but will be without Yusuf Mohammed (Sion), out through injury). Those two will be joined by Danny Shittu (Bolton), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Rabiu Afolabi (Red Bull Salzburg), Uwa Echiéjilé (Rennes) and Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam).
Vicent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv) is the incumbent number one in goal, joined by Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva) and Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda).
Nigeria is in Group B in South Africa, where they compete against Argentina, Greece, and South Korean. They open the World Cup against the Argentines on June 12 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Final Roster
Goalkeepers
Aiyenugba, Dele (Bnei Yehuda)
Ejide, Austin (Hapoel Petah Tikva)
Enyeama, Vincent (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Defenders
Adeleye, Dele (Sparta Rotterdam)
Afolabi, Rabiu (Red Bull Salzburg)
Echiéjilé, Uwa (Rennes)
Odiah, Chidi (CSKA Moscow)
Shittu, Danny (Bolton)
Taiwo, Taye (Marseille)
Yobo, Joseph (Everton)
Midfielders
Etuhu, Dickson (Fulham)
Haruna, Lukman (Monaco)
Kaita, Sani (Alania Vladikavkaz)
Mikel John Obi (Chelsea)
Uche, Kalu (Almería)
Yussuf, Ayila (Dynamo Kyiv)
Forwards
Aiyegbeni, Yakubu (Everton)
Kanu, Nwankwo (Portsmouth)
Martins, Obafemi (Wolfsburg)
Obasi, Chinedu (Hoffenheim)
Obinna, Victor (Málaga)
Odemwingie, Peter (Lokomotiv Moscow)
Utaka, John (Portsmouth)
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