Martins gets Nigeria recall for World Cup tie

Nigeria have recalled striker Obafemi Martins for their World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar on 23 March. 

Martins, omitted from the Nations Cup party, has revived his career at Spanish side Levante, scoring the winner on his debut and going on to net eight further goals in 23 appearances.

Two uncapped players Babatunde Michael and John Ogu have also been handed call-ups.

But there is no place for captain Joseph Yobo, while injury has ruled out striker Emmanuel Emenike.

Coach Stephen Keshi has  retained eleven players from the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last month.

"We are giving opportunities to others to also stake a claim for shirts," Keshi told this blog.

"The plan is to keep working hard and bring in players that can bring something special to the team.

"The rebuilding process can only take a full circle when we've looked at several players good enough to come in."

Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide return to the side as well as defenders Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile and Kenneth Omeruo.

John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses of English side Chelsea are joined by Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye and Ogenyi Onazi.

Keshi is expected to announce the locally-based players to be added to the 15 overseas-based players he has called up by next week.

The Super Eagles currently top Group F, ahead of Namibia, Malawi and bottom of the table Kenya, while the African champions have four points from their opening two games.

They will host Kenya in Calabar - before travelling to both Nairobi and Namibia for further ties in June.

It is unclear whether the team leading Group F of the African standings will reschedule the
Namibia tie, which is set to be played three days before the Super Eagles start their Confederations Cup campaign.

The African champions face Tahiti in the Brazilian city Belo Horizonte on 17 June, before meeting Uruguay and Spain in Group B of the global competition.

Nigeria's foreign squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic, Scotland); Elderson Echiejile (Braga, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Holland)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga, Norway); John Ogu (Academica , Portugal)

Strikers: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea, England); Babatunde Michael (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine); Nnamdi Oduamadi (A.S Varese 1910, Italy); Obafemi Martins (Levante FC, Spain)