Guardian

COACH Stephen Keshi Friday released the names of players he will use for the forthcoming Brazil 2013 Confederations Cup, with nine of the boys, who played at the last African Nations Cup missing from the team.

There are also seven home-based stars in the squad billed to travel to Brazil for the competition next week.

As expected, there is no room for Nations Cup skipper, Joseph Yobo, and Ikechukwu Uche, who have been out of contention since the competition in South Africa in February.

Also missing from the team are Israel-based Juwon Oshinawa, Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain), Obiora Nwankwo (Padova, Italy), Scotland-based Gabriel Reuben and Ejike Yzoenyi, who moved from Enugu Rangers to France shortly after the Nations Cup.

Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses are out of the team due to injuries they sustained during the last season.

In place of the dropped players, Keshi has chosen Sunshine Stars’ Solomon Kwambe and Francis Benjamin of Heartland of Owerri.

Also new in the team are John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra), Babatunde Michael (Kryvbas), Joseph Akpala (SV Werder Bremen), Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne), Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese), and Gambo Mohammed (Kano Pillars).

The players from the local league include five who made the final squad to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, where Nigeria won a third continental trophy.

Enugu Rangers supply three of these players, including Sunday Mba, Chigozie Agbim and Emeka Eze, while Sunshine Stars have two players, Godfrey Oboabona and Solomon Kwambe.

The other players are Gambo Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Benjamin Francis (Heartland) and Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves).

Heartland left winger Obinna Nwachukwu and Sunshine defender Odunlami Kunle were dropped from the team.

The Super Eagles begin their Confederations Cup campaign on June 17 against Tahiti. The other teams in their group are Spain and Uruguay.

Meanwhile, all the other seven participating nations have also confirmed their squad lists for the Confederations Cup.

Every confederation is represented at the ‘Festival of Champions’ with the respective continental champions joined by FIFA World Cup winners Spain, together with host nation Brazil, while UEFA EURO 2012 runners-up Italy will also represent Europe. Among the 184 players selected are some of the world’s finest footballers, many of whom have already demonstrated their quality on the game’s greatest stages. Now, after much anticipation and excitement, the moment of truth is finally upon us.

Hosts and reigning FIFA Confederations Cup champions, Brazil, boast an array of attacking talent, with Neymar and Oscar arguably the star attractions. Attempting to halt their progress in Group A will be Italy, who have a blend of youth and experience in their squad. Alongside the likes of Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Giovinco are veterans Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo. Japan and Mexico, meanwhile, will look to their respective talismans in Keisuke Honda and the much-beloved Javier Hernandez.

World champions Spain contain plenty of English Premier League stars in their ranks, including Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla, while possessing an all-star midfield crowned by Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

South American champions Uruguay have a fearsome forward line in Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani. Tahiti will lean on their skipper Nicolas Vallar and long-serving French Ligue 1 star Marama Vahirua who will finally make his Toa Aito debut.