Yak, Kaita Return To Eagles For Rwanda

Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has invited only 11 foreign-based players for the their 2013 African Nations Cup qualifying engagement with Rwanda in Kigali on February 29.

The call up celebrates the return of power-playing forward Yakubu Ayegbeni and workhorse midfielder Sani Kaita, both of whom have not been internationally employed since the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

Kaita earned a red card for retaliation in Nigeria’s second group phase match against Greece in Bloemfontein, while Ayegbeni has been overlooked since missing a sitter against the Republic of Korea in Durban that would have qualified the Super Eagles for the Round of 16 at Africa’s first World Cup finals.

Also called up are goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, defenders Joseph Yobo (captain) and Taye Taiwo, and midfielders Joel Obi, Dickson Etuhu and Victor Moses, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Ikechukwu Uche and Osaze Odemwingie.

Ayegbeni, who scored for Blackburn Rovers in the English Premiership on his return to action after a three-match ban at the weekend, remains Nigeria’s most prolific striker since Samson Siasia hung up his international boots in 1999.

NFF’s Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, said on Thursday that the players are expected in camp February 26.