Defender Danny Shittu has been recalled to the Nigeria squad ahead of next month's African Nations Cup.

But striker Osaze Odemwingie has been ignored in what could signal the beginning of the end of the West Brom forward's international career.

Also out is left back Taye Taiwo, who has also been overlooked since a Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda.

Shittu has not been involved with the Super Eagles since Samson Siasia's last game in charge, a friendly against Ghana in which he was called up as a back-up.

But with recent defensive frailties, Stephen Keshi has called up the 32-year-old to bolster his defensive options.

However, with a surfeit of attacking riches, Keshi appears to have decided against the outspoken Odemwingie.

The squad is composed of 14 domestic league professionals and 18 from the foreign legion.

The squad will be led by skipper Joseph Yobo, who has appeared five previous tournaments from 220 to 2010 and is Nigeria's record international player with 89 caps.

All 16 participating countries have until midnight of January 9 to submit their final list of 23 players to CAF.

NFF executive committee member Barrister Chris Green explained that 14 home boys will travel to Portugal to be joined by 10 overseas-based professionals for the clash with Catalonia on January 2, with the remaining eight foreign-based stars to link up with the squad on January 4.

THE FULL LIST OF PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC, Nigeria); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Danny Shittu (Millwall FC, England); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Raheem Lawal (Adana Demirspor, Turkey); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria); Rabiu Ibrahim (Celtic FC, Scotland)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Uche Kalu (Rizespor, Turkey); Bright Dike (Portland Timbers, USA); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle FC, England); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Good list, but we already know our first 11 now

All I see is a lot of players Keshi wants to be an agent for by getting them into Europe Osazi and Martins are a million times better than the Uche duo

Je leur souhaite tout le meilleur. J'espère qu'ils
nous rendent fiers cette fois-ci.

Wish Odemwingie was included

comparing the list to....

...kwarasey, paintsil, afful, vorsah, boye, annan, atsu, kwadwo, ayew, badu, gyan ,




...mismatch??

baby-boy:
All I see is a lot of players Keshi wants to be an agent for by getting them into Europe Osazi and Martins are a million times better than the Uche duo

What are you saying na?

bin gbagbo: comparing the list to....

...kwarasey, paintsil, afful, vorsah, boye, annan, atsu, kwadwo, ayew, badu, gyan ,




...mismatch??

I hope you haven't forgotten the Liberian treatment?

Emusan: Good list, but we already know our first 11 now

From this list, who are you start 11?

honeric01:

I hope you haven't forgotten the Liberian treatment?

Liberia??

bin gbagbo:

Liberia??

Yes don't you watch ball?

bin gbagbo: comparing the list to....

...kwarasey, paintsil, afful, vorsah, boye, annan, atsu, kwadwo, ayew, badu, gyan ,




...mismatch??

Am Ghanaian and I can tell you that our afcon squad is full of useless players like john paintsil,derek boateng, rabiu mohammed, solomon asante, emmanuel clottey, anthony annan,yahaya mohammed just useless. Considering the fact that Essien and Muntari just came back from injury, Daniel Opare injured, and Kevin Prince Boateng no longer a Ghanaian international, Ghana's afcon squad should have been:
GK-Kwarasey, Robert Dabuo, Daniel Agyei
DF-Boye, Vorsah, Akaminko, Rashid Sumaila, David Addy,Afful,Kissi Boateng
MF-Mubarak Wakaso, Afriyie Acquah, Agyemang Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew,Albert Adomah, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, ishmael yartey.
FW-Jordan Ayew, Gyan, Majeed Waris, Boakye Yiadom
Nigeria holds more firepower than the Ghana squad Appiah listed. Looking at Yobo, Emenike, the two uches scares me. The only player who does not scare me is Mikel Obi. Pretty good squad by Nigeria. Hopefully they teach those insurbodinate Zambians a lesson.

bin gbagbo:

Liberia??

No, Sierra Leone.....YES Liberia that beat you 2-0.

tzooh:
Am Ghanaian and I can tell you that our afcon squad is full of useless players like john paintsil,derek boateng, rabiu mohammed, solomon asante, emmanuel clottey, anthony annan,yahaya mohammed just useless. Considering the fact that Essien and Muntari just came back from injury, Daniel Opare injured, and Kevin Prince Boateng no longer a Ghanaian international, Ghana's afcon squad should have been:
GK-Kwarasey, Robert Dabuo, Daniel Agyei
DF-Boye, Vorsah, Akaminko, Rashid Sumaila, David Addy,Afful,Kissi Boateng
MF-Mubarak Wakaso, Afriyie Acquah, Agyemang Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew,Albert Adomah, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, ishmael yartey.
FW-Jordan Ayew, Gyan, Majeed Waris, Boakye Yiadom
Nigeria holds more firepower than the Ghana squad Appiah listed. Looking at Yobo, Emenike, the two uches scares me. The only player who does not scare me is Mikel Obi. Pretty good squad by Nigeria. Hopefully they teach those insurbodinate
Zambians a lesson.

What ever happened to Kingson? I liked that guy...

sambos994:

What ever happened to Kingson? I liked that guy...

Out of form

GUN_SLINGER:

Out of form

Yea, I suppose...

Keshi should play a 4-3-3 formation during the group stages. One of the midfielders should be a defensive midfielder, while the others should be a playmaker and an attacking/box-to-box midfielder.

I favor this formation because our Group opponents are not to tough to beat; they'll in fact, play a defensive game against the Eagles. When the Super Eagles meet more dangerous opposition in the q-finals or semifinal, the coach can use a 4-4-2 formation with 2 purely defensive midfielders.