Amodu names Martins, Ogbuke for Angola 2010

Super Eagles coach, Shaibu Amodu, on Wednesday named a 24-man squad for next month‘s Nations Cup in Angola.

However, there is no place for burgeoning Sparta Rotterdam defender Dele Adeleye, who was axed along with France-based defender Olubayo Adefemi, Belgium-based striker Julius Akpala and Groningen star Femi Ajilore. Amodu slammed the door shut on the home-based trio of Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Chibuzor Okonkwo and Akpan Bassey.

Portsmouth‘s Nwankwo Kanu is set to make his sixth appearance at the biennial championship after he was listed along with ‘oldies‘ Joseph Yobo, Obinna Nwaneri, Seyi Olofinjana, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi Martins, Taye Taiwo and Osaze Odemwingie.

In-form 1899 Hoffenheim forward Chinedu Ogbuke was handed an opportunity to feature at the continental showpiece for the first time as he got Amodu‘s nod to travel to South Africa for the team‘s camping ahead of the tournament. Ogbuke has scored five crucial goals in 15 appearances to help Hoffenheim to the seventh place in the German Bundesliga table.

Amodu kept faith with goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Dele Aiyenugba and Austin Ejide for the tourney.

Struggling Bolton defender Danny Shittu, influential Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, Rennes‘ Elderson Echiejile, FC Scion‘s Yusuf Mohammed, CSKA Moscow‘s Chidi Odiah, Nice‘s Onyekachi Apam also made the squad.

Others are Fulham strongman Dickson Etuhu, Lokomotiv Moscow‘s Sani Kaita, Dynamo Kiev‘s Yusuf Ayila, Almeria‘s Kalu Uche, Esperance‘s Michael Eneramo and Malaga‘s Obinna Nsofor.

Amodu is expected to drop a player before the January 1 deadline to submit his squad to the Confederation of African Football.

The Nations Cup is scheduled to take place between January 10 and 31 and the Eagles are expected to engage the Pharaohs of Egypt on January 12 in a Group C opening clash.