Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi Friday named his 22 man squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup with eight home-based stars making the final list. The players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) who made the cut include goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey Oboabona, Emeka Eze, Sunday Mba, Francis Benjamin and Gambo Mohammed.
Heartland striker, Obinna Nwachukwu, who made the trip to Nairobi, was left out of the squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup scheduled to kick off on June 15.
The Eagles chief coach made good his promise to leave team captain Joseph Yobo out of the Confederations Cup and his name was conspicuously missing in the list of 22. The coach also dropped out of favour Ikechukwu Uche.
The two stars were part of the 23-man roster that won the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations but has since suffered blackouts in recent matches of the Super Eagles.
The duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Gabriel Reuben, also Nations Cup winners, were left out of the squad owing to injuries.
Instead, Keshi has stuck to 22 out of 23 players that travelled for Wednesday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup against Kenya in Nairobi in which the Nigerians won 1-0.
The African champions will start their campaign against Tahiti in Belo Horizonte on June 17.
Nigeria are expected to arrive in Belo Horizonte three days before their opening game against Tahiti.
The Squad:Goalkeepers:incent Enyeama, Austine Ejide, Chigozie Agbim.
Defenders:Godfrey Oboabona, Uwa Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe, Francis Benjamin, Kenneth Omeruo.
Midfielders: John Ogu, John Obi Mikel, Fengor Ogude, Ogenyi Onazi, Emeka Eze, Sunday Mba, Michael Babatunde.
Strikers:Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, Joseph Akpala, Gambo Mohammed, Anthony Ujah, Nnamdi Oduamadi.
