Nigeria: Amodu Shuns Ogbuke, Names 24 for Jamaica
Orkula Shaagee
12 January 2009
Super Eagles coach Shaibu Amodu yesterday released a list of 24 players in-vited to camp for the February 11 international friendly against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica in London, with Beijing Olympics star Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke of TSG Hoffenheim conspicuous-ly missing from the list.
No reason was given for the absence of the crafty player, who was instrumental to the Dream Team's qualification for the final of the Beijing Olympics football event last year.
Coach Amodu could not be reached for comments, but Nige-ria Football Federation Chief Media Officer, Ademola Olajire said he was not aware of the reasons for the player's absence from the list, saying only Amodu can give reasons for the deci-sion to leave out the player from the list of invited players.
"I don't know the reasons while he was not invited, I am not the coach, only Coach Amodu can give you the reasons", Olajire said when called on phone to comment on the list.
Amodu was not available for comments yesterday evening.
However, seven members of the Beijing Olympics train were listed for the London friendly. They are former Kano Pillars midfielder Sani Kaita, Adeleye Ayodele, Apam Onyekachie, Olubayo Adefemi, Femi Ajilore, Obinna Victor Nsofor and Osaze Odemwingie.
The list made available to reporters by the Glass House yesterday also includes the team's captain Kanu Nwankwo, John Mikel Obi and goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenu-gba and Austine Ejide.
Others are Joseph Yobo, Da-niel Shittu, Obinna Nwaneri, Ta-ye Taiwo, Chidi Odiah, Michael Eneramo of Esperance of Tuni-sia, Lyn Oslo midfielder Paul Obiefule, Seyi Olofinjana and Kalu Uche, Yusuf Ayila, Uche Ikechukwu and Joseph Akpala.
All the invited players are to report to the team's London camp on Monday February 9, latest by 12 noon, while the technical officials are to report to camp a day earlier for the match.
Similarly, Amodu also dis-closed that he would be leading the team out against Ireland on May 29 in Dublin in another international exhibition game.
Amodu, told Complete Sports on Sunday that the Irish wrote the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, asking for the match to ser-ve as a tune-up game for their 2010 World Cup qualifying game against Bulgaria in Sofia on June 6.
The match will also serve as a tune-up game for the Eagles who host Kenya in their second group game in the 2010 qualifiers for both the African Nations Cup in Angola and the World Cup in South Africa
"The Eagles will be playing a friendly game against the Ireland Republic on May 29 in Dublin", reveals Amodu who was in Oghara to fish for home-based talents that will be invited to the senior national team.
"The NFF are working out arrangements for the match but what I can reveal to you here is that the Eagles will engage their Irish counterparts on that date".
Goalkeepers
Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Dele Aiyenugba
Defenders
Daniel Shittu, Joseph Yobo, Obinna Nwaneri, Taiye Taiwo, Chidi Odiah, Adeleye Ayodele, Onyekachi Apam, Olubayo Adefemi.
Midfielders
John Mikel Obi, Kalu Uche, Paul Obiefule, Sani Kaita, Seyi Olofinjana, Femi Ajilore, Yusuf Ayila
Forwards
Nwankwo Kanu, Ikechukwu Uche, Obinna Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie, Joseph Akpala, Michael Eneramo
