Lagerback names provisional squad for World Cup !

Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Pappy Dee in Sports Gist

Lars Lagerback has taken his first decisive action as coach of the Super Eagles coach by naming his provisional squad for the World Cup. The 44 man squad was released by the Nigerian Football Federation via an official press statement on Sunday . Unfortunately those expecting whole sale changes to the squad following the departure of Amodu will be disappointed as most of the players who featured in the African Cup of Nations and World cup qualification are retained. The likes of Yakubu Aiyegbeni , Kanu Nwankwo , John Mikel Obi and Seyi Olofinjana all make the cut . Lagerback has also given the recently marginalised John Utaka another chance to stake a claim for a place in South Africa along with his brother Peter Utaka . Interestingly enough only 6 home based players have made the provisional squad which include hot shot Ahmed Musa (who based on current form is the hottest striker in the Glo Premier league).

Also some of the bright stars of the flying Eagles like Tsone Aluko, Femi Ajilore, Haruna Lukman and Rabiu Afolabi (just to name a few )are included in the list . Notable absentees are the UK contingent of Nedim Onuoha and Victor Moses who both declined Lagerback’s invitation to the squad . Another who was omitted from consideration was Rabiu Ibrahim who some suggested as a solution to the lack of creativity in the Super Eagles engine room but his lack of club action seems to have counted against him. The players are to report to Camp on April 27 and 28 . The list as released by the NFF reads as follows:

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva, Israel), Greg Etafia (Moroka Swallows, South Africa) and Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United, Nigeria)

Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille, France), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (OG Nice, France), Olubayo Adefemi (US Boulogne, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Michael Odibe (Siena, Italy), Sam Sodje (Charlton Athletic, England), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg, Austria) and Terna Suswan (Lobi Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders/Forwards: Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Anichebe (Everton, England), Chinedu Obasi (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux, France), Femi Ajilore (Groningen, Netherlands), Joseph Akpala (FC Brugge, Belgium), Peter Utaka (Odense Boldklub, Denmark), Michael Eneramo (Esperance, Tunisia), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England), Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Sani Kaita (Alaniya, Russia), Haruna Lukman (AS Monaco, France), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City, England), Onyekachi Okonkwo (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Omatsone Aluko (Aberdeen, Scotland), Gabriel Reuben (Enyimba, Nigeria), Ahmed Musa, Solomon Okpako (Kano Pillars, Nigeria), Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Heartland FC).

What do you think about Lagerback’s squad ? Let us know