Contrary to the expectations of millions of pundits and many Nigerian soccer fans, Super Eagles’ Manager, Stephen Keshi, has once more overlooked Chelsea midfield dynamo John Mikel Obi and West Brown marksman Osaze Odemwingie, ignoring them as he unveiled the list of foreign-based pros for the forthcoming Battle of Liberia.

The two “big boys” have been frozen out of the senior national team under Keshi’s watch despite arguments by fans and pundits for their recall. Expectations that they would get the call for next month’s final 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Liberia in Monrovia were dashed after Keshi’s list was made public this morning.

The invited foreign-based players are as follows:

Goalkeeper: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Ashdod FC, Israel); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal)

Midfielders and Forwards: Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic, England); Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal, Spain); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine)

Keshi had yesterday at a meeting in the NFF Secretariat in Abuja defended the list before the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation) Technical Sub-Committee.

According to Chairman of the NFF Technical Sub-Committee, Barrister Chris Green: “Coach Keshi gave his reasons for inviting each of the players and we all agreed with him that these players are in good form presently and will do the job for Nigeria against Liberia.”

*Photo shows Keshi.