Newcastle top goal scorer Obafemi Martins has been named in Nigeria’s squad for the African Cup of Nations, as expected.
Nigeria Manager Berti Vogts has insisted that all 31 members of his squad, report for a pre-tournament training camp in Spain from January 4.
Oba Martins – If Nigeria Reach the Final Martins will miss 6 Newcastle games
Vogts is under some pressure to have Nigeria do well in this tournament and in obviously doing all he can to have them fully prepared. If Nigeria do reach the final of this competition, which they have done six times before, Martins will miss six Newcastle games against Stoke City (FA Cup), Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa.
Martins is one of eight English based players in Nigeria’s squad, though there is surprisingly no place for Everton’s Victor Anichebe. His team-mates Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu are however named alongside Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka (both Portsmouth), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland) and Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves).
Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (both Chelsea), Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue (both Arsenal), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton), Emerse Fae (Reading) and Didier Zokora (Tottenham) are in the Ivory Coast’s provisional squad.
With their players missing, it will be interesting to see how these premiership teams fare in the league in January and early February. With four players out we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Sam Allardyce is allowed to draft in at least two defenders, who have Premiership experience. We are also expecting several youngsters to be arriving at the club during the transfer window.
Comments very welcome.
6 comments so far
Leo
Dec 12, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Comment #1id like to see who nigeria are playing, because i hope they get knocked out straight away. along with beyes national team (not sure which country, think it might be senegal)
Callum
Dec 12, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Comment #2Vogts isnt a good manager so hopefully Nigeria wont get past the group stages and Martins will only miss 2-3 games as Owen has proven we cant exactly rely on him with all those injuries 🙂
George
Dec 12, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Comment #3I like OFM, and wish him well, but boy do i pray for an early exit for Nigeria.
Reasons, who will partner Alan Smith up front after MO crys of injured agin, MV still has not found the little pace he had, and Shola Muppet Ameobi stops saying “give me a run and i will show what i can do”, we know what you can do, your a plank.
Please god knock out Nigeria quick.
scott 9
Dec 12, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Comment #4well be fine owen will start scoring and if he gets injured smith and viduka are a great partenership we have enough cover in attack even duff could play just off viduka or smith
Hadrian
Dec 12, 2007 at 4:12 PM
Comment #5pondering putting a tenna on oba for highest goalscorer at african nations cup .
then another tenna on his lowly 13 mill buyout clause being hit a week later .
Daniel Petersen
Dec 13, 2007 at 12:53 AM
Comment #6I thought they renegotiated Oba’s contract and eliminated the buy out clause. I could be wrong though. I think Beye will be the biggest loss, with only Carr as cover in RB.