Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi is hell bent on having the duo of England-based Shola Ameobi and Victor Anichebe to play in the Mandela Cup challenge against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
A source in the Super Eagles team has informed that that the team’s chief coach, Stephen Keshi, is lining up both men for a recall into the Super Eagles squad.
“The coach is looking at bringing in Shola Ameobi especially for the game against South Africa in August. You know Shola has had the clause that barred him from playing in the national team by Newcastle United removed. So he’s ready to play again for Nigeria.
“Keshi is also looking at convincing Victor Anichebe to make a return to the team. Hopefully if talks are opened with him, it is hoped that he will agree to play for us again (in the South African game),” the backroom staff disclosed.
Ameobi’s future at Newcastle United remains unresolved as he has just a year left in his current contract.
The 31-year-old stayed away from Nigeria’s pre-Africa Cup of Nations camp after being named in the provisional squad owing to a clause in his contract at the Toon that stopped him from the international tournament.
In Anichebe’s case, Keshi has revealed he will hold talks with the Everton man after he excused himself from international football on grounds of recovering from an injury-ravaged time.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face their South African counterparts, Bafana Bafana, in one of the two international matches slated for the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
The match will hold at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on August 14, the South Africa Football Association (Safa) has announced.