Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport, Abuja

Okocha was to make his return after qutting the side

A groin injury has ruled midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha out of Nigeria's opening 2008 African Cup of Nations group qualifier against Niger in Abuja.

Nigeria FA spokesman Robinson Okosun told BBC Sport that the midfielder, who plays for Qatar Sports Club, informed him of his inability to play in Saturday's game.

"He called me on Tuesday to say that he suffered a groin injury during his team's league game last weekend," Okosun said.

"It is really sad because he was pretty excited about the prospect of leading the Super Eagles again."

Announcing his retirement from international football after the last Nations Cup final in Egypt, Okocha was recalled to replace Lazio's Stephen Makinwa, also out through injury.

Okocha joins a long injury list which ensures the Nigerians will be unable to field a full-strength squad at the weekend.

Strikers Obafemi Martins and John Utaka, as well as defender Chidi Odiah, are the other players unable to feature in the qualifier as a result of health problems.

Their absence means players in the domestic league, like Heartland's Bob Osim and Haruna Abdul of Wikki Tourists, are expected to feature on Saturday.

"It is rather too late to start inviting any foreign-based players to fill the void created by these unexpected injuries," national coach Austin Eguavoen told BBC Sport on Wednesday.

"Other players are in fine fettle, so we must manage the number we have here."