RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Cole Receives Nigeria Call Up
Croydon-born Carlton Cole, 24, has been named in a 20-man Nigeria squad that will face World Cup hosts South Africa. Cole is eligible to play for the Super Eagles because his parents are of Nigerian and Sierra Leonean descent.
Aug 5, 2008 9:56:02 AM
As the tall West Ham striker approaches his mid 20s, he has grown accustomed to the idea of playing international football for a country other than his adopted one. In the past, the Chelsea trainee was holding out for his holy grail - representing England. As that looks less likely now, he has accepted the Nigerian call, despite representing the Three Lions at U21 level.
Carlton Cole's call comes at a time when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) believe they need to experiment with their line-ups ahead of final stages of the World Cup qualifying campaign. If they are successful, then they hope to recreate their mid-90s heydey. A time that saw them rank as highly as 5th in the world by Fifa, reach the second round of the World Cup, win the Africa Cup of Nations, and emerge victorious in the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations.
NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, said to www.kickoffnigerian.com: "The [squad] list underscores Nigeria's desire to try new options against the backdrop of the Super Eagles having already picked a ticket for the third and final phase of qualifying which begins in March 2009."
The 20-man Nigeria squad includes: Ayenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Etafia (Moroka Swallows); Yobo (Everton), Shittu (Watford), Odiah, Mohammed (Al Hilal), Ola (Cesena), Nwaneri, Taiwo (Marseille); Olofinjana (Stoke City), Uche (Almeria), Mikel (Chelsea), Haruna (Monaco), Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Okoduwa (Dynamo Kiev), Utaka (Portsmouth), Cole (West Ham), Martins (Newcastle), Yakubu (Everton), and Kanu (Portsmouth).
The West African side face South Africa at Port Elizabeth on the 6th of September. On the 11th of October, Nigeria host Sierra Leone at Abuja.
Alan Dawson
Carlton Cole's call comes at a time when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) believe they need to experiment with their line-ups ahead of final stages of the World Cup qualifying campaign. If they are successful, then they hope to recreate their mid-90s heydey. A time that saw them rank as highly as 5th in the world by Fifa, reach the second round of the World Cup, win the Africa Cup of Nations, and emerge victorious in the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations.
NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, said to www.kickoffnigerian.com: "The [squad] list underscores Nigeria's desire to try new options against the backdrop of the Super Eagles having already picked a ticket for the third and final phase of qualifying which begins in March 2009."
The 20-man Nigeria squad includes: Ayenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Etafia (Moroka Swallows); Yobo (Everton), Shittu (Watford), Odiah, Mohammed (Al Hilal), Ola (Cesena), Nwaneri, Taiwo (Marseille); Olofinjana (Stoke City), Uche (Almeria), Mikel (Chelsea), Haruna (Monaco), Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Okoduwa (Dynamo Kiev), Utaka (Portsmouth), Cole (West Ham), Martins (Newcastle), Yakubu (Everton), and Kanu (Portsmouth).
The West African side face South Africa at Port Elizabeth on the 6th of September. On the 11th of October, Nigeria host Sierra Leone at Abuja.
Alan Dawson
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly no Mr. February
The Swedish striker traditionally struggles in February. Facing a three-match ban this month, the jinx looks set to continue.
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream
In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.
-
ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein
Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.
-
LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction
With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?
-
ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment
Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.
Advertisement
Advertisement
