20100104
allafrica

Wise counsel finally prevailed in the Eagles camp as team coach, Shaibu Amodu, yesterday made a last minute change to his original list of 23 players penciled for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Chinedu Obasi, a striker with Heffeinham of Germany, who was to be dropped for Obafemi Martins has made the final list as Amodu was literally forced to retain the lethal finisher who put up a good performance, scoring a goal in a tune-up match against local side, Thanda Royal Zulu, on Sunday.

Perhaps, in consideration of the lad's current form and for that face-saving goal against the local opposition, Amodu had to swap Ogbuke with Michael Eneramo who is based in Tunisia.

The tall forward was dropped after three days of training at the Riverside Hotel and Spa in Durban, South Africa, where the team have been camping since Wednesday last week.

Eneramo shot into limelight after he scored for Nigeria against Republic of Ireland in an international friendly played in London in May, 2009.


The striker was also on song when Nigeria played Tunisia in Abuja during the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers in September, 2009. Eneramo scored Nigeria's second goal before the sleek playing Tunisians equalised.

According to a release by the Nigeria Football Federation spokesman, Demola Olajire, since then "he has not been able to blend easily with the team."

NIGERIA'S SQUAD FOR ANGOLA

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Bamidele Aiyenugba, Austin Ejide

Defenders: Taye Taiwo, Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Danny Shittu, Obinna Nwaneri, Onyekachi Apam, Chidi Odiah, Yusuf Mohammed

Midfielders: Dickson Etuhu, Sani Kaita, Oluwaseyi Olofinjana, Mikel Obi, Nwankwo Kanu, Yusuf Ayila, Kalu Uche

Strikers: Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins, Chinedu Obasi, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obinna Nsofor.