Cole gets Nigeria call-up

Hammers striker among nine English-based players in squad

Last updated: 5th August 2008

west ham carlton cole southampton pre-season friendly

Cole: Called up by Nigeria

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West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has been included in Nigeria's squad for a World Cup qualifier against South Africa.

Cole, who won 19 caps for England's Under 21 side, is part of a 20-man squad for the away tie with the 2010 hosts next month.

The former Chelsea youngster's father is Nigerian and he is one of nine English-based players in the party for the game.

Watford's Danny Shittu is involved for the first time since the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year and Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins is also back in the squad.

Everton duo Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Portsmouth's Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka, Stoke City's new signing Seyi Olofinjana and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel have also been picked.

Nigeria are currently top of Group Four, which also includes Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, and have already qualified for the next phase.

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and striker Ike Uche have been left out, with coach Shaibu Amodu keen to look at different options.

Squad: Dele Ayenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Greg Etafia (Moroka Swallows); Joseph Yobo (Everton), Danny Shittu (Watford), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Yusuf Mohammed (Al Hilal), Daniel Ola (Cesena), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion), Taye Taiwo (Marseille); Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City), Kalu Uche (Almeria), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Lukman Haruna (Monaco), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Emmanuel Okoduwa (Dynamo Kiev), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)