Posted by The Vanguard on
NIGERIA'S soccer rave of the moment, John Mikel Obi, has been invited to the Super Eagles' squad to face Algeria on September 4 in the make or mar World Cup qualifier in Oran.
NIGERIA'S soccer rave of the moment, John Mikel Obi, has been invited to the Super Eagles' squad to face Algeria on September 4 in the make or mar World Cup qualifier in Oran.
Chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA, Suleiman David, revealed that five members of the World Youth Championship second-placed Flying Eagles team are on coach Austin Eguavoen's list for the September 4 showdown submitted to the soccer house on Wednesday afternoon.
Apart from Obi, Taiye Taiwo and Sani Kaita are the other members of the Flying Eagles team in the main 25-man squad for the game, while Chinedu Ogbuike and Isaac Promise would be on stand by.
Super Eagles' regulars like captain Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal, Joseph Yobo, Ifeanyi Udeze, Julius Aghahowa and Obafemi Martins have also been called up for the make or mar encounter.
Suleiman informed that the same set of players would prosecute the Eagles international friendly against Libya on August 17 will prosecute the Algeria game.
Meanwhile Taiwo, seems to be reaping the reward of his excellent performance at the Holland 2005 World Youth Championship both at home and abroad.
Apart from his larger status at home, his Ligue 1 club, Olympic Marseille, has extended his contract till 2008.
To the club fans this is good news, another beneficiary of the contract extension is Samir Nasri. They both signed contract extensions on Tuesday.
Pape Diouf, announced that Nasri had extended his contract until 2009 and Taiwo until 2008.
Nigerian international, Taiwo, 20, who was voted third best player at the recent Under-21 World Championship, only arrived at Marseille last Christmas. But his performances have been so impressive that the club decided to offer him a new improved deal, extending his contract from 2008 to 2009.