Nigeria have bizarrely handed a call-up to Hamburg midfielder Dennis Aogo for World Cup qualifiers even though he is not eligible to play for the country.

The former German youth international is among a Super Eagles 29-man squad for June's World Cup qualifiers.

Aogo, whose father is from Ilesha in south-west Nigeria, had apparently been keen on playing for the Super Eagles.

But the Germany-born player cannot switch allegiance to Nigeria as he is now 22 years old.

Fifa allows players who have represented one country at junior level to switch to another country.

But the statutes of world football's governing body state that this can only happen if they are still under the age of 21.

This is the second time Nigeria have called up an ineligible player for a World Cup qualifier in recent times.

West Ham United striker Carlton Cole was named in the squad for the games against South Africa in September and Sierra Leone in October.

But the England international, who was then 24 failed to turn up for the game because as expected he could not get the clearance from Fifa.

Meanwhile, Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu returns to the squad for the time since last year's African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

Also making returns are Germany-based striker Chinned Obasi, midfielder Yusuf Ayila of Dinamo Kiev and Rennes defender Elderson Echiejile.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8017173.stm


What chances do we have of winning, when who ever selects the squad makes this sort of error in this day and age? How hard is it to know who is eligible and who isn't? While this may be a small issue, it just goes to highlight the incompetency that have riddled every aspect of what we do. God help us.

If what I read about Aogo is true, that means our coach and technical committee are incompetent

It would be almost impossible for BBC to get that report wrong. I am disappointed to be honest. Somebody need to be fired for that, and let's employ someone who know what they are doing. According to the report, it aint the first time its happened.

Sport can never grow in this country until those bunch of selfish and unpatriotic officials in NFA are flushed out. It is really absurd that we cannot assemble 11 good players that can take this country to the next level. Recently l learnt $200,000 disappeared into thin air, may God help this country