Super Eagles get ready for the international friendly against Venezuela in the USA

Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has called up 11 foreign-based professionals for next week’s international friendly match between the Super Eagles and the Senior Team of Venezuela. The match is to be played in Miami, USA.

The coach earlier called up 24 home-based professionals, who have been battling it out in camp in Abuja since Sunday, 15 of whom will be picked for the trip to America.

Next Wednesday’s match at Marlins Park is one of a number of games meant to prepare the two-time African champions for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa, starting on January 19.

Israel-based goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, a 10-year veteran, tops the list that also includes 2010 World Cup star Obafemi Martins and Newcastle United star, Shola Ameobi.

Ameobi, cleared to play for Nigeria last year alongside, Victor Moses, after a long-drawn process, gets his first call and battles for a

place upfront with Moses, Ukraine-based Brown Ideye, Martins and a trio of home boys.

A surprise invitee is former junior international defender, Apam Onyekachi, back from injury at Nice FC of France, with Portugal-based defender Elderson Echiejile also heading to America.

Chelsea FC of England Star and Nigeria’s only last-man standing in the Africa Player of the Year race, Mikel Obi, tops a midfield cast that includes former junior international Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Eddy Onazi and Nosa Igiebor.

ALL THE FOREIGN-BASED PROS

Goalkeeper: Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal); Apam Onyekachi

(Nice FC, France).

Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real

Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Raheem Lawal (Adana

Demirspor, Turkey).

Forwards: Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Obafemi Martins (Levante FC, Spain).