Yakubu And Obafemi Martins Miss Out

Nigeria will be without Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins of Wolfsburg for next month’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Abuja.

Nigeria coach, Shuaibu Amodu, who announced a 21-man squad for the Group Two qualifier on September 6, said he left out both strikers because they are yet to attain full match fitness after recovering from injuries.

Yakubu was out with a long-term Achilles tendon injury, while Martins underwent surgery on a hernia in the summer.

However, Amodu has recalled Hoffenheim forward Chinedu Obasi for the Tunisia clash. He said he was delighted Obasi has recovered from an injury which prevented him from being part of the team in June.

Tunisa lead Group Two with seven points from three matches, two points more than closest rivals Nigeria.

The full squad

Goalkeepers: Austin Ejide (Bastia/FRA), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR)

Defenders: Onyekachi Apam (Nice/FRA), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes/FRA), Adefemi Olubayo (Boulogne/FRA), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille/FRA) Joseph Yobo (Everton/ENG),Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen/NED)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea/ENG), Sani Kaita (Rubin Kazan/RUS),Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR),Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City/ENG), Kalu Uche (Almeria/SPA

Strikers: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth/ENG),Chinedu Ogbuke (Hoffenheim/GER) Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotiv Moscow/RUS), Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan/ITA), Michael Eneramo (Esperance/TUN), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza/SPA)

Nkume faces Siasia wrath

Flying Eagles defender Alex Nkume was on Monday thrown out of camp by coach Samson Siasia on Monday after the player returned from trials to Europe.

Nkume reportedly left camp to go on trials without informing the coaches and Siasia was left fuming when the player returned.

"He sneaked off to go on trials and then he just tried to walk back into camp," Siasia said. "I threw him out. He should go back to where he came from."

However, following entreaties, Siasia finally allowed the player back in, but made it clear there would be repercussions.

"He will have to face some disciplinary measures," the former forward said. "We cant have players just abandoning camp and going off on trials because it disrupts our preparations."

Siasia, who has also had to deal with a similar situation involving Kingsley Udoh, another defender, advised the players that with a little patience, they would not need to cheapen their value by going on trials.

"What better way to show yourself than at the World Cup in Egypt. A good performance there will have the clubs queuing up for them and t heir value will rise.

"Instead, they are going there on trials and effectively begging the clubs to sign them."

Kanu signs one-month extension

Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu has signed an extension to his Portsmouth contract, but it is for just one month.
A statement on Portmouth’s official website said Kanu, 33, has extended his contract by a month.

Kanu scored the winning goal for Pompey in their FA Cup title win in 2008 and has scored 21 goals in 94 games for the South Coast club.

The Nigerian international has made 78 appearances for his country and is the only current Premier League player to have won the Uefa Champions League, Uefa Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and an Olympic gold medal.

Me i think that he should look for another club. what happens after the one month contract?

U-17 World Cup Draw Results

Venue - Abuja
Group A
1. Nigeria
2. Germany
3. Honduras
4. Argentina

Venue - Lagos
Group B
Brazil
Japan
Mexico
Switzerland

Venue - Calabar
Group C
Iran
Gambia
Colombia
Holland

Venue - Enugu
Group D
Turkey
Burkina Faso
Costa Rica
New-Zealand

Venue - Kano
Group E
UAE
Malawi
Spain
Usa

Venue - Kaduna
Group F
Urugauy
Korea Republic
Algeria
Italy

Nigeria face Germany in opener

The draw that took place at the International Conference Centre in Abuja today (7 August 2009) has pitted reigning FIFA U-17 world champions and hosts Nigeria against Germany in the opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009. The tournament will be played in Abuja, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ijebu-Ode, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos from 24 October to 15 November 2009.

The draw ceremony also included the unveiling of the official mascot of the tournament. Bobo the eaglet was chosen due to the eagle's intrinsic link with Nigeria. He symbolises the friendliness and strength of the Nigerian people whilst also representing the passion that football arouses in the host country. He eats, sleeps and breathes football and cannot wait to welcome visitors to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Mozambique Coach Prays For Nigerian Triumph In Qualifiers

Mozambique national team head coach, Mart Nooij, is praying fervently for the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as this will make it easier for his charges to qualify for the Nations Cup in Angola.

The Dutch coach said his prayer was for the Eagles to win their next two matches before the last game against Mozambique.

"I'm confident that Nigeria will beat Tunisia and Kenya and qualify for the World Cup," Nooij was quoted as saying in the Nigerian Tribune.

"My only prayer for Nigeria is to beat Tunisia 2-0 and also beat Kenya. That will be a breakthrough for us."

The tactician obviously hopes that the Mambas will get a result against Tunisia and Kenya when they go visiting in Maputo to edge closer to clinching one of the three Africa Cup of Nations tickets.

The Mambas are last in the group and will face Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Maputo on September 5. They are currently preparing for a friendly match against the Ivory Coast on August 12 while Harambee Stars, their main rival for the continental ticket, will be playing Malaysia on the same day to be ready for the crucial qualifiers.

Brazil to play in Lagos

Following a special request from the Local Organising Committee to FIFA, three-time champions Brazil have been given special status and will play at the Lagos Centre during this year's FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
The South Americans have been seeded automatically as the top team in Group B.

Hosts Nigeria are the top seeds in Group A and will play in Abuja.

Eight Nigerian Cities To Host FIFA U17 World Cup

FIFA have picked eight cities across Nigeria to stage this year's Under-17 World Cup, with only the southern city of Warri excluded.

Fans in the country's capital city of Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ijebu-Ode, Kaduna and Kano will therefore have the chance to see the world's future stars from October 24 until November 15.

FIFA vice-president, Jack Warner, said Warri lost out because the pitch in its stadium was in an "extremely poor state".

Before now, there were concerns over the safety of teams in the oil-rich town, which is in the heart of the restive Niger Delta, where militants have been violently agitating for better life for people in the oil-producing region.

Bauchi, earlier ruled out as a match venue and only recently at the centre of a religious riot that left several hundreds dead, was a surprise choice by FIFA.

U-17 WC draw

Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba and Wilson Oruma, who first broke into the international limelight when they featured for the country's Under-17 team, are set to participate in the draw for the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be staged in Nigeria in October.
A top official of the Nigeria Football federation (NFF) informed Goal.com: "We have invited these players to serve as draw assistants for the draw taking place in Abuja on August 7.

"We believe their presence will add colour to the event."

Also invited for the draw is former Eagles skipper Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha.

Hosts Nigeria are expected to be seeded for the 24-team tournament, which kicks off on October 24 in various cities across the country.

This will be the second FIFA competition Nigeria has stage, after they hosted the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.