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John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins and John Utaka have all been left out of the Nigeria squad for a friendly against Colombia next month.
John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins and John Utaka have all been left out of the Nigeria squad for a friendly against Colombia next month. The English Premier League trio were all excluded from the 23-man list by coach Shuaibu Amodu after missing the Super Eagles' final 2010 World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone on October 11.
Chelsea midfielder Mikel last featured for the Super Eagles against Equatorial in June, while Portsmouth forward Utaka was a substitute against South Africa in September.
Newcastle's Martins has missed all of Nigeria's second round qualifiers, largely through injury.
Three uncapped players, Solomon Okoronkwo, Femi Ajilore and Elderson Echiejile, were named by Amodu in their place.
The west Africans face the Columbians in Bogota on November 19 as preparation for the final round of World Cup qualifiers that begin in March.
Squad: Vincent Enyeama (Hapeol Tel Aviv), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda), Austin Ejide (Bastia); Joseph Yobo (Everton), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Danny Shittu (Bolton), Chidi Odiah, Yusuf Mohammed (Al Hilal), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes); Sani Kaita (Monaco), Christian Obodo (Udinese), Oluwafemi Ajilore, Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke), Kalu Uche (Almeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe), Obinna Nsofor (Internazionale), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge), Chinedu Ogbuke-Obasi (Hoffenheim), Solomon Okoronkwo (Saturn FC), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth).