Nigerian Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi on Wednesday 9th, January annouced his 23 man squad for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup due to be played in South Africa.

The former Nigerian international has dropped on form US based forward Bright Dike.

Further, five local based players; goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Azubuike Egwuekwe, midfielder Gabriel Reuben as well as forwards Ejide Uzoenyi and Sunday Mba have also been dropped.

Dike’s exclusion is a major shock after he scored a great goal against Catalonia in a warm-up game last week.

Dynamo Kiev striker Brown Ideye, who broke his eagles duck in November in a friendly against Venezuela has been drafted in the final list to replace Raheem Lawal who failed to impress.

Nigeria U20 defender Omeruo, who has impressed with Dutch club ADO Den Haag on loan from Chelsea,  made the final cut in only his first call-up to the full international team.

Otherwise apart from Westbromwich striker Peter Odemwengie who was not even summoned to the provisional squad, Coach Stephen Keshi has kept faith with the tried and trusted leading up to this month’s tournament.

Meanwhile, Nigeria drew goalless with fellow 2013 Nations Cup finalists Cape Verde on Wednesday night in their final warm-up game before the biennial tournament.

They are due in South Africa on January 16.

Nigeria who won the championship in 1994 are in group C alongside Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.

The initial list:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv/ISR), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba/ISR), Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga/POR), Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC/ISR), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce/TUR), Efe Ambrose (Celtic/SCO), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag/NED), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars)

Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis/SPA), Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio/ITA), Raheem Lawal (Adana Demirspor/TUR), Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova/ITA), Fegor Ogude

(Valerenga/NOR), Gabriel Reuben (Kano Pillars)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow/RUS), Victor Moses (Chelsea/ENG), Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal/SPA), Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers)

****UPDATE***** we have since learnt that the CAF list may be erroneous. We shall update should a new official list emerge.
Below is the approved final list by Nigeria Football Association with Dynamo Kiev striker Brown Ideye replacing Raheem Lawal as the major change in the squad. The squad was also confirmed by Nigerian Coach Stephen Keshi after the warm up game against Cape Verde which ended in a goal less draw.
NIGERIA’S APPROVED FINAL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)
 
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (SC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)
 
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Gabriel Reuben(Kano Pillars, Nigeria)
 
Forwards: Ahmed Musa ( CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Senior Staff writer at Kawowo Sports mainly covering football

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