Keshi denies pressure to invite Mikel

Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has insisted he was not forced to recall John Mikel Obi to his team.

Chelsea midfielder Mikel is one of 15 foreign-based professionals called up for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations return leg qualifier against Liberia.

There has been a clamour by fans and officials alike for Mikel to return to the team, but Keshi maintained he alone took the decision to pick the player for the Liberia clash.

"I hear people say Mikel Obi was forced on me. That's not true. I speak to Mikel almost every day and he has declared his readiness to make the Liberia game,” Keshi said.

“He wants to play for his country and I hope he brings his best to the national team.”

Mikel has yet to play for the Eagles under Keshi, who replaced Samson Siasia in November.

Keshi has gone for a larger contingent of foreign-based players than previously and he said this is to ensure that Nigeria qualify for next year’s Nations Cup in South Africa.

"I increased the foreign-based players because we need all our best legs for the final game,” he defended.

“You know we have some players that must prove their fitness and as such we have enough to fill any space should it happen any of these players are not fit for the Calabar."

Kano Pillars pair of Gabriel Reuben and Papa idris as well as Joel Obi of Inter Milan have been picked after long-term injuries and Keshi said he wishes to ascertain their fitness levels.

"Gabriel Rueben and Papa Idris, I included them to ascertain their fitness level same goes for Joel Obi," he disclosed.

The 23 players from the Nigeria Premier League will resume training camp on Sunday in Abuja, while the foreign pros will join up in Calabar from October 8.

Below is the full list.

LIST OF HOME BASED PLAYERS

GOALKEEPERS

1. AGBIM CHIGOZIE                        -           WARRI WOLVES, NIGERIA

2. AKPEYI DANIEL                           -           HEARTLAND FC, NIGERIA

DEFENDERS

EGWUEKWE AZUBUIKE     -           WARRI WOLVES, NIGERIA

PAPA IDRIS                           -           KANO PILLARS, NIGERIA

OBOABONA GODFREY                  -           SUNSHINE STARS FC, NIGERIA

ZANGO UMAR                                  -           KANO PILLARS, NIGERIA

KWAMBE SOLOMON                     -           SUNSHINE STARS FC, NIGERIA

EZEKIEL BASSEY                 -           LOBI STARS FC, NIGERIA

KINGSLEY UDOH                -           HEARTLAND FC, NIGERIA

MIDFIELDERS AND FORWARDS

UZOENYI EJIKE                                -           RANGERS FC, NIGERIA

MBA SUNDAY                                  -           WARRI WOLVES FC, NIGERIA

GABRIEL REUBEN                -           KANO PILLARS FC, NIGERIA

HENRY UCHE                                   -           ENYIMBA FC, NIGERIA

CHRISTIAN OFILI                -           ABS KWARA, NIGERIA

JABASON SOLOMON                     -           AKWA UNITED FC, NIGERIA

SANUSI SANI                                    -           GOMBE UNITED FC, NIGERIA

PHILIP ASOQUO                  -           3SC FC, IBADAN, NIGERIA

IZU AZUKA                           -           SUNSHINE STARS FC, NIGERIA

BRENDON OGBU                 -           HEARTLAND FC, NIGERIA

ANTHONY OKPOTU                       -           LOBI STARS FC, NIGERIA

UBALE MANIR                                  -           KANO PILLARS FC, NIGERIA

OHANDUKU GOMO                        -           SHARKS FC, NIGERIA

FIDELIS FAVOUR                 -           NASARAWA UNITED, NIGERIA

2. LIST OF FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS

GOALKEEPERS

ENYEAMA VINCENT                       -           MACCABI TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

EJIDE AUSTINE                                 -           HAPOEL BE’ER SHEVA, ISRAEL

DEFENDERS

YOBO JOSEPH                                  -           FENERBAHCE FC, TURKEY

EFE AMBROSE                                  -           CELTIC FC, ISRAEL

ECHIEJILE ELDERSON                    -           FC BRAGA, PORTUGAL

MID FIELDERS AND FORWARDS

NOSA IGIEBOR                                 -           REAL BETIS, SPAIN

NWANKWO OBIORA                      -           CALCIO PADOVA FC, ITALY

MIKEL OBI                            -           CHELSEA FC, ENGLAND

JOEL OBI                               -           INTER MILAN FC, ITALY

VICTOR MOSES                  -           CHELSEA FC, ENGLAND

 AHMED MUSA                     -           CSKA MOSCOW, RUSSIA

 UCHE IKECHUKWU                       -           VILLARREAL FC, SPAIN

 EMENIKE EMMANUEL      -           SPARTAK MOSCOW, RUSSIA

 IDEYE BROWN                    -           DYNAMO KYIV, UKRAINE

 OGENYI ONAZI                   -           SS LAZIO, ITALY