Keshi invites 28 home boys for Jordan

By Esther Egbe

Nigeria's senior home-based players will kick-start their
preparations for a first ever appearance at the African Nations
Championship on October 17th.
 
Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, who also manages the 'A' team, has invited
28 players to report in Abuja as the Super Eagles Team B gets set for
an international friendly with the full team of Jordan, billed for the
Jordanian capital, Amman, on 28th October.
 
While Jordan will use the match to prepare for their 2014 FIFA World
Cup play-off fixture against the fifth-placed team in the South
American campaign (likely to be Uruguay), Keshi will have another look
at his ammunition for the 2014 African Nations Championship taking
place in South Africa in January.
 
It is the first in a long list of international games that the Nigeria
Football Federation is putting together for the home boys ahead of
their campaign in the Rainbow Nation.
 
Invited are three goalkeepers, eight defenders, nine midfielders and
eight strikers. Former 'A' team regular Ejike Uzoenyi, back home from
a stint in France, is a pleasant surprise on the list.
 
Predictably, top of Keshi's list are the five members of his 'A'
squad, namely goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe,
Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis, and midfielder Sunday Mba. There
are also other Team 'B' regulars like goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi,
defenders Ebenezer Odunlami and Umar Zango, midfielder Etebo Oghene
and forwards Miuhammad Gambo, Ifeanyi Edeh, Osadiaye Joseph and
Ezekiel Mbah.
 
Team officials have advised all invited 28 players to arrive at the
team's Bolton White Apartments abode in Abuja on Thursday, 17th
October, with their international passports, as visa processing for
the trip will commence on Friday, 18th October, 2013.
 
The delegation is expected to leave for Amman on Friday, 25th October.
 
THE  FULL LIST
 
Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland
FC); Okemute Odah (Warri Wolves)
Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine
Stars); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Ebenezer Odunlami (Sunshine
Stars); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Yinka Adedeji (Sharks FC); Bright
Esieme (Enyimba FC); Solomon Babatunde (Nasarawa United)
Midfielders: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers); Etebo Oghene (Warri Wolves);
Christian Oghiozor (Enugu Rangers); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Ogonna
Osuchukwu (Enugu Rangers); Mohammed Garuba (Abia Warriors); Douglas
Achiv (Lobi Stars); Olayinka Oyeleke (Crown FC); Christian Pyagbara
(Sharks FC)
Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC);
Barnabas Imienger (Lobi Stars); Osadiaye Joseph (Warri Wolves); Sani
Mohammed (Gombe United); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Victor Namo
(Nasarawa United); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United).    

Two players invited

Bright Esieme , who started football at a early age, the most outstanding player of this year's Federation Cup has prophesied a brighter future for himself after guiding his club to victory in the final game. The Most Valuable Player of the 2013 Federation Cup, Esieme has expressed his happiness at being considered for such recognition.

He played for ABS last season after rising from the then lower league side Abia Warriors, but he was lured by the Peoples Elephant at the beginning of the season along with his team mate, Andrew Abalogu from the Ilorin side. He also put up a dazzling display that attracted the attention of all that graced the match at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.  His delightful shot in the Warri Wolves vital area in the 63rd minute actually reawakened Enyimba's confidence and self belief throughout the remainder of the tie.

He was voted the MVP with a cash reward of N150,000 after the final which his club won at the expense of the Seasiders on penalties.

Esieme had told the National Daily that he’d love to play for Nigeria just two weeks before the Super Eagles invited him. He’s promising the National Team that he will not let them especially as he gets on the up his career.

Okiemute Odah(Goal Keeper of Warri Wolves) started playing football at eight with Bussdor UTD  FC before he  then moved to Sharks FC. “Warri Wolves later called me to play for them,” he said.  But he scared shitless during matches. “My major challenge is insecurity during matches. As a player, I have neither contract nor insurance.” Maybe he’ll get all that as he realizes his dream to play for the best clubs in Europe in few years time.

Meanwhile, he says he’s rubbing along in Warri Wolves.  

Four months before he was called to the national team, he told our reporter that he’d be very grateful to play for Nigeria.