Cole named in Nigeria squad

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been named in a 20-man squad by Nigeria to face South Africa in a joint 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier early next month.

The 24-year-old was a member of England’s Under-21 squad earlier in his career and doubts remain over whether he will accept this latest call by the west Africans.

He previously rejected call-ups to the Nigeria squad saying instead he wanted to play for his adopted homeland.

However, Cole, whose parents are of Nigerian and Sierra Leonean descent, has failed to make the England squad and may now consider playing for Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says that the latest inclusion is part of plans to experiment with different options ahead of the final qualifying phase.

“By and large, the list underscores Nigeria’s desire to try new options against the backdrop of the Super Eagles having already picked a ticket for the third and final phase of qualifying which begins in March 2009,” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told www.kickoffnigeria.com.

Italy-based defender Ola Daniel from AC Cesena is another surprise name in coach Shaibu Amodu’s squad.

However, there was no place for Hapoel Tel Aviv goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and Getafe forward Ike Uche, both of whom were not allowed by their clubs to go to the Olympics with Nigeria’s Under-23 squad.

Amodu has already guided his team into the final round of qualifying after they became the first side through with four wins from their opening Group Four matches.

The Super Eagles play World Cup hosts South Africa in Port Elizabeth on September 6 before facing Sierra Leone on October 11.

Nigeria squad: Ayenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Etafia (Moroka Swallows); Yobo (Everton), Shittu (Watford), Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Mohammed (Al Hilal), Ola (Cesena), Nwaneri (FC Sion), Taiwo (Marseille); Olofinjana (Stoke City), Uche (Almeria), Mikel (Chelsea), Haruna (Monaco), Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Okoduwa (Dynamo Kiev), Utaka (Portsmouth), Cole (West Ham), Martins (Newcastle), Yakubu (Everton), Kanu (Portsmouth).