Super Eagles: Stephen Keshi dropped Mikel & Odemwingie (recalls Yobo & Emenike) for Nations Cup qualifying clash with Liberia

Stephen Keshi

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has announced a list of nine Europe-based players that will make up his squad to face Liberia in the crucial final round first leg 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in September.

Conspicuosly missing from the squad is Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel who has not seen eye to eye with the former national team captain. Also missing is West Bromwich Albion forward Peter Odemwingie.

However, captain Joseph Yobo will make his return to the squad after being out injured for the past three months. He missed the team's qualifying matches against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda in June.

In-form strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Brown Ideye will join Ikechukwu Uche, Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses upfront while Obiora Nwankwo and Nosa Igiebor are the midfielders invited.

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who was stand-in captain in the absence of Yobo, will return to the goalposts while Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile will be in defence.

The invited lads will join the players from the Nigeria Premier League who are already in camp after their friendly international against Niger last week.

Nigeria are under pressure to defeat Liberia over two legs in order to secure a place at South Africa 2013 after they missed out on qualifying for the last Afcon hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Invited players:
Goalkeeper: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)
Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Ashdod FC,Israel); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal)
Midfielders and Forwards: Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic, England); Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal, Spain); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine)