Tuesday, November 03, 2009              

2010 World Cup Qualifiers
Kanu, 22 others resume for Kenya match Nov. 8
By Olalekan Okusan

COACH Shaibu Amodu is keeping faith with a majority of the players that executed the last World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique, with skipper Kanu Nwankwo topping the list of the 23 players invited for the all important match against Kenya's Harambee Stars on November 14.

Unlike Kenya, which has began build-up to the match with a friendly against Kuwait in Cairo, Egypt, the Eagles will only resume training on November 8. According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman, Ademola Olajire, Everton of England defender and deputy skipper, Joseph Yobo, and 16 players that featured against Black Mambas in Abuja made the list. Five others that were not part of the team are also returning.

Amodu would have been convinced by the performance of Chidi Odiah during the UEFA Champions League tie against Manchester United recently to call up the player. The Eagles have a date with the Kenyans on November 14 in a must-win final game of the qualifiers at the Karasani Sports Centre. As the Eagles are aiming to top the group to berth in South Africa, the Kenyans are targeting a place in next year's Nations Cup in Angola.

The match being the final of the African series for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by South Africa, the Eagles will have their hands full against Kenyan fans.

The Squad: Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Bamidele Aiyenugba and Greg Etafia. Defenders Taye Taiwo, Joseph Yobo, Obinna Nwaneri, Onyekachi Apam, Danny Shittu, Ayodele Adeleye, Chidi Odiah and Elderson Echiejile.

Midfielders Olufemi Ajilore, Sani Kaita, Mikel Obi, Nwankwo Kanu, Yusuf Ayila, Oluwaseyi Olofinjana and Osaze Odemwingie. Strikers Obafemi Martins, Joseph Akpala, Michael Eneramo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obinna Nsofor. The players will start arriving in Nigeria on Monday and depart for Nairobi aboard a chartered flight on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Amodu at the weekend began his globetrotting to visit some of the injured and recuperating players, with his first stop being Spain, where he will meet with the Uche brothers. He will then proceed to Switzerland to see defender Yusuf Mohammed before leaving for the Netherlands, where he will meet defender Ayodele Adeleye.

Amodu will round up his junketing with a visit to London, where he will meet several players before returning to the country this weekend.