ENIWOKE IBAGERE, Lagos | Monday 5.30pm.
NIGERIA’s national soccer team captain and Turkey-based striker Daniel Amokachi will not make the final squad for the African Nations’ Cup tournament because of injury, assistant team coach Amodu Shaibu said.
Shaibu said injuries and lack of form among key players had significantly weakened the side before the contest which starts on January 22.
”Amokachi is on a rehabilitation programme in our Malaga camp and won’t make our final squad,” Shaibu said in Lagos before returning to Spain after a short visit to discuss administrative matters.
Shaibu is working with Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere to prepare the team for the cup which Nigeria won in 1980 and 1994.
Amokachi, who has not seen action for Turkish club Besiktas this season, asked to be in Nigeria’s preliminary squad of 31 for preparations for the 16-nation finals.
”Jonathan Akpoborie is in camp but doubtful. Taribo West and a few others are rusty. But we’ll make do with what we have,” said Shaibu.
Striker Akpoborie, with German club Wolfsburg, is recovering from an operation while defender West was recently transferred to AC Milan after staying on the bench of fellow Italian giants Inter Milan team since the start of the season.
Shaibu said three newly-invited players would report to camp on Monday, alongside Nwankwo Kanu of English premier league club Arsenal, to fight for a shirt.
Kanu’s trip to Malaga was delayed so he could play in his club’s 0-0 F.A. Cup draw with Leicester on Sunday.
The Confederation of African Football has set January 12 as the deadline for all teams to name their final 22-man squads for the tournament to be co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. — Reuters