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Nigeria’s Mikel, Moses left out of Stars clash

Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel controls the ball during a past match. The England-based player will not feature for the Nigeria team in next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Taifa Stars at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh also dropped Odion Ighalo, another England-based player, and Ogenyi Onazi, who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Lazio, from his list of foreign-based professionals for the crucial game.

Dar es Salaam. Chelsea’s midfielder John Obi Mikel and his Stamford Bridge teammate, Victor Moses will not feature for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Taifa Stars early next month.

Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh also dropped Odion Ighalo, another England-based player, and Ogenyi Onazi, who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club Lazio, from his list of foreign-based professionals for the crucial game.

Taifa Stars, gunning for their first appearance at the Afcon finals in 35 years, have been fine-tuning in the city since last week for the clash set for September 5 at the National Stadium. Mikel and Moses paid dearly for their inability to secure a regular place in Jose Morinho’s Chelsea as they were left out, while Ighalo who hit the bull’s eyes on his English Premier League debut for Watford was a surprise exclusion. Unveiling his 18-member squad in Lagos on Monday evening, Oliseh said he believed Nigeria would be a step closer to the Gabon 2017 finals if they beat Tanzania in the first leg qualifier.

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No immediate reason was given by the Nigeria’s football governing body (NFF) for the omission of the players from the roster as West Brom striker Brown Ideye is also considered another top player not listed for the Tanzania trip. Oliseh has opted to call up six other strikers in Ahmed Musa, Emem Eduok, Emmanuel Emenike, Anthony Ujah, Sylvester Igboun (FC UFA, Russia) and Moses Simon.

In the absence of Mikel, Joel Obi, Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu, Obiora Nwankwo, Lukman Haruna and Rabiu Ibrahim got calls to the team. Eagles are expected to arrive in the country next week for the eagerly awaited encounter at the ultra-modern venue.

The NFF confirmed yesterday that it has paid for a chartered flight to take players and officials to Tanzania for Oliseh’s debut on the Nigerian job. Nigeria defeated Chad in their opening game of the qualifiers, but the Super Eagles are tied on three points with Egypt..

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joel Obi (Torina FC, Italy); Izunna Ernest Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); Lukman Haruna (Anzhi Machatsjkala, Russia); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emem Eduok (Esperance ST, Tunisia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Anthony Ujah (Werder Bremen, Germany); Sylvester Igboun (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium)

In the headlines