Nigeria picks 2 ex-England youth internationals
Sport
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi selected former England youth internationals Victor Moses and Omatsone Aluko among 11 overseas-based players in his squad on Thursday for World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.
Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel, West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie and AC Milan's on-loan left back at Queens Park Rangers, Taye Taiwo, were surprisingly left out.
Moses starred for Wigan this English Premier League season while Aluko played for Rangers in the SPL. Keshi also retained Fenerbahce defender Joseph Yobo as captain.
The 11 will join a group of 22 home-based players, who are currently in camp in Nigeria, for a friendly in Peru next week.
The squad will be cut to 29 for World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Malawi in June and the second leg of the African Cup first-round qualifying tie against Rwanda.
Two-time champion Nigeria failed to qualify for this year's African Cup, leading to the firing of Samson Siasia as coach.
Keshi, a former Nigeria international defender and 1994 African Cup winner, has since placed his emphasis on home-based players to try and rebuild the Super Eagles.
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