SONE ALUKO, UTAKA Get Invites, As KESHI Unveils Professionals

Montpellier offensive player John Chukwudi Utaka was the headline name as Nigeria gaffer Stephen Keshi unveiled the list of foreign based professional players for June's crucial World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Namibia, Malawi and Rwanda.

Apart from John Utaka, 10 other players were selected by Keshi. The former Anderlecht libero has picked skipper Joseph Yobo,Uwa Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, in-form Glasgow Rangers winger Sone Aluko, Fegor Ogude, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Ikechukwu Uche, Vincent Enyeama, and Austin Ejide.

Stephen Keshi has done a good PR job by handing Sone Aluko, very popular with the Nigerian fans, a call up. But his invitation of Austin Ejide, who conceded 55 goals this season as Hapoel Petah Tikva lost their Israeli top flight status, might be an unpopular choice.

Dele Aiyenugba was in imperious form in the outgoing campaign. Only last weekend, the 28-year-old Bnei Yehuda custodian reached a personal milestone, playing his 100th game in the league since his arrival in Israel three years ago.