Nigeria call up PSG wonderboy Ogbeche for Mali 2002 (15.12.2001)
LAGOS,
Nigeria have named PSG`s teenaged sensation Batholomew Ogbeche in the 34-man squad for training ahead of the African Nations Cup next month.
Ogbeche has been in sparkling form since breaking into the first-team of his French club this season and he has now been rewarded with a first-ever invitation to the senior national team.
The former schoolboy international starred for Nigeria at the African Youth Championship in Ethiopia earlier this year but the `Flying Eagles` finished bottom of their qualifying group.
However, the controversy surrounding the invitation of Servette FC midfielder Wilson Oruma continued Friday after coach Shaibu Amodu insisted he has not bowed to pressure to invite the player for the Nations Cup.
"I have not invited Oruma but he is welcome to the team even if he does not get an official invitation," Amodu said.
"He is a good player, the natural
replacement for (Austin) Okocha in the midfield, but the press should allow me do my job."
Amodu has also insisted that Yakubu Adamu show up when the `Super Eagles` begin preparations for Mali 2002 on December 28 even though his German club claim he is injured.
Bundesliga side St.Pauli said the young defender fractured his shin bone in a league game and will be out of action for the rest of the season.
Overall, for the Nations Cup Amodu has kept faith with the tried and trusted players who qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup.
The final 22-man squad will be announced before the team leave for their last warm-up match against the Ivory Coast in Bouke on January 12. Officials said the game is back on after the Ivoriens had earlier complained of a crowded schedule.
Nigeria are drawn with host team Mali, Algeria and Liberia in the first round of the championship which begins January 19 in Bamako.
