Nigeria’s 23-man list for the World Cup in Brazil, was officially announced at mid night yesterday with returnee Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie guaranteed places in Stephen Keshi’s party to the South American Samba nation.

Yobo is going to play in his third FIFA World Cup finals and have opportunity to become Nigeria’s first –ever century – international after he was named in the African champions’ final list of 23 for Brazil 2014.

Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide,  and surprisingly, Chigozie Agbim.
Mikel will only be attending his first finals after Nigeria narrowly missed Germany 2006 and he was omitted from South Africa 2010 due to injury.

Former junior international defender Elderson Echiejile and Olympic silver medalist Osaze Odemwingie, who were also in South Africa four years ago, make the cut for the biggest showpiece in football, starting in 10 days’ time.

2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer Emmanuel Emenike is joined in the attack by England-based duo of Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi, and former junior international Uche Nwofor, but there is no place for Olympic silver medalist Obinna Nsofor and nimble –footed Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Home –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, dimunitive midfielder Joel Obi, South Africa 2013 hero Sunday Mba, former U-23 star Nosa Igiebor and 2014 CHAN most valuable player Ejike Uzoenyi also miss out on the trip to South America.

NIGERIA’S FINAL 23
GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim
DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel
FORWARDS: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor 

GOALKEEPERS
*VINCENT ENYEAMA (31)
Born: August 29, 1982
Current Club: Lille (France)
WC App: Two

*AUSTIN EJIDE (29)
Born: April 8, 1984
Current Club: Hapoel Bee’r Sheva (Israel)
WC App: Two


*CHIGOZIE AGBIM (29)
Born: November 28, 1984
Current Club: Gombe United (Nigeria)
WC App: None


DEFENDERS
*KENNETH OMERUO (20)
Born: October 17, 1993
Current Club: Middlesborough(England)
WC App: None

*GODFREY OBOABONA (23)
Born: August 16, 1990
Current Club: C’ Rizespor (Turkey)
WC App: None

*ELDERSON ECHIEJILE (26)
Born: January 20, 1988
Current Club: Monaco (France)
WC App: One

*AMBROSE EFE  (25)
Born: October 18, 1988
Current Club: Celtic (Scotland)
WC App: None

*AZUBUIKE EGWUEKE (24)
Born: July 16, 1989
Current Club: Warri Wolves (Nigeria)
WC App: None

*JOSEPH YOBO (33)
Born: September 6, 1980
Current Club: Norwich  (England)
WC App: Two

*JUWON OSHANIWA (23)
Born: September 14, 1990
Current Club: Asdod (Israel)
WC App: None

*EBENEZER K. ODUNLAMI (23)
Born: March 5, 1990
Current Club: Sunshine Stars (Nigeria)
WC App: None


MIDFIELDERS

*JOHN MIKEL OBI (26)
Born: April 22, 1986
Current Club: Chelsea (England)
WC App: None

*OGENYI ONAZI (21)
Born: December 25, 1992
Current Club: Lazio (Italy)
WC App: None

*MICHAEL UCHEBO (24)
Born: February 2, 1990
Current Club: Cercle Brugge (Belgium)
WC App: None

*RAMON AZEEZ (21)
Born: December 12, 1992
Current Club: Almeria (Spain)
WC App: None

*Gabriel Reuben (23)
Born: September 25, 1988
Current Club: Waasland-Beveren (Belgium)
WC App: None

FORWARDS

*OSAZE ODEMWINGIE (32)
Born: July 15, 1981
Current Club: Stoke (England)
WC App: Two

*SHOLA AMEOBI (32)
Born: October 12, 1981
Current Club: Newcastle (England)
WC App: None

*AHMED MUSA (21)
Born: October 14, 1992
Current Club: CSKA Moscow (Russia)
WC App: None

*VICTOR MOSES (23)
Born: December12, 1990
Current Club: Liverpool (England)
WC App: None

*EMMANUEL EMENIKE (26)
Born: August 29, 1982
Current Club: Fenerbahce (Turkey)
WC App: None

*UCHE NWOFOR (22)
Born: September 17, 1991
Current Club: Heerenveen (Holland)
WC App: None

*BABATUNDE MICHAEL (21)
Born: December 24, 1992
Current Club: Volyn Lutsk (Ukraine)
WC App: None