Nigeria have axed Everton striker Victor Anichebe from their final 23-man World Cup squad for South Africa.
Toffees striker fails to make final cut for World Cup
Nigeria have axed Everton striker Victor Anichebe from their final 23-man World Cup squad for South Africa.
Anichebe, who signed with the Toffees in 2006, was one of seven players to miss out on new coach Lars Lagerback's final party.
However, Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel was included in the squad after overcoming a knee injury, and will feature alongside fellow Premier League midfielder Dickson Etuhu of Fulham.
Other top flight players named in the party are Everton duo Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Bolton defender Danny Shittu and Portsmouth forward John Utaka.
Among the surprise exclusions were Real Zaragoza striker Ikechukwu Uche and Nice defender Onyekachi Apam, who have both reportedly failed to beat knee problems.
The other dropped players are Peter Utaka, Bassey Akpan, Terna Suswan and Brown Ideye.
Nigeria will face Argentina, Greece and South Korea in Group B of the tournament, and play their first match against Diego Maradona's men on 12th June.
Squad
Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Danny Shittu (Bolton Wanderers), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg); Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Sani Kaita(Alaniya), Haruna Lukman (Monaco), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow).
