Babayaro returns after a year's absence
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Eight England-based players were
included in Nigeria's 35-strong provisional squad for
next year's African Nations Cup tournament in Tunisia.
Taiwo Ogunjobi, secretary-general of the Nigeria Football
Association (NFA), said he had asked the national team's local
coach Christian Chukwu to submit the list of players.
Chukwu had been the Super Eagles caretaker manager before the
NFA appointed former England captain Bryan Robson as the coach to take the side to Tunisia.
The squad includes captain Austin 'Jay-Jay' Okocha, strikers
Nwankwo Kanu and Yakubu Ayegbeni and defenders Isaac Okoronkwo,
Joseph Yobo and Celestine Babayaro, who are all with English
premier league clubs.
Defenders George Abbey and Ogbonna Kanu play for English
league clubs Peterborough United and Macclesfield Town
respectively.
Babayaro last played for Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup,
while Germany-based striker Victor Agali joins the squad for the
first time since last year's Nations Cup finals in Mali.
Only nine of the 35-man squad are with domestic clubs.
The NFA secretary-general said the Super Eagles would prepare for the Nations Cup finals in the Portuguese resort of Faro or Manchester, England.
Nigeria, Nations Cup winners in 1980 and 1994, have been
grouped with the unfancied Benin Republic and former winners
South Africa and Morocco in the first round of matches.
Meanwhile, Bryan Robson is expected in the country on Saturday to sign his six-month managerial contract.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Austin Ejide (Etiole, Tunisia), Vincent Enyeama
(Enyimba, Nigeria), Sunday Rotimi (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria), Sam
Okoye (Rangers, Nigeria).
Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Isaac Okoronkwo
(Newcastle United, England), Rabiu Afolabi and Joseph Enakarhire
(both Standard Liege, Belgium), Ifeanyi Udeze (PAOK Salonica,
Greece), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea, England), Ogbonna Kanu
(Peterborough United, England), George Abbey (Macclesfield Town,
England), Patrick Ovie (Krylya Sovetov, Russia), Romanus Orjinta
(Enyimba, Nigeria), Benedict Idahor (Iwuanyanwu Nationale,
Nigeria), Seyi Olajengbesi (Julius Berger, Nigeria).
Midfielders: Austin 'Jay-Jay' Okocha (Bolton Wanderers,
England), Christian Obodo (Perugia, Italy), Seyi Olofinjana (SK
Brann, Norway), Karibe Ojigwe (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Bob
Osim (Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Nigeria), Ikpe Ekong (Reggina,
Italy), Uche Kalu (Wislaw Krakow), John Utaka (Lens, France)
Strikers: Bartholomew Ogbeche (PSG, France), Benedict
Akwuegbu (Graz AK, Austria), Victor Agali (Schalke, Germany),
Obafemi Martins (Inter Milan, Italy), Julius Aghahowa (Shaktar
Donetsk, Ukraine), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Portsmouth, England), Osaze
Odemwingie (La Louviere, Belgium), Ahmed Garba (Kano Pillars,
Nigeria), Ishola Shaibu (Julius Berger, Nigeria), Peter Ijeh
(Malmo, Sweden), Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal, England)
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