By Albert Akota
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that there will be no surprise inclusions in the 35-man provisional World Cup squad which will be released today by Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi.
The list features twenty-one players from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning side with Ikechukwu Uche and Obiora Nwankwo the only noticeable absentees.
Recently capped Leon Balogun and Osaze Odemwingie expectedly made the list with the latter’s peace efforts seemingly paving way for his return to the National team set-up.
On the home front, as many as six players from the Glo Premier League who excelled at the African Nations Championship (Chan), earlier in the year also made the provisional list.
The players are led by prominent figures like Ejike Uzoenyi, Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kunle Odunlami, Abdullahi Shehu and Daniel Akpenyi
Another player who got listed in the provisional list is Stoke City ‘bad boy’ Osaze Odemwingie whose last minute apology to Keshi and the NFF did the magic for his inclusion.
“Osaze is in the list. The only person that I did not see his name is Ike Uche. And the officials of the NFF have done everything to convince Keshi to include the lad in the list.
But keshi has his own reasons. He said that for a player who does not see him as a good coach cannot play for him’’, our source said.
