 Jay-Jay Okocha will not be joining up with Nigeria to play Lesotho |
Jay-Jay Okocha will not join be joining the Nigeria squad, who are training in South Africa, ahead of Sunday's 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho. The former captain said that he had not been given enough notice to join up with squad and that he and the coach came to an agreement that he would not make the trip to Lesotho.
"Okocha will not be joining the team any longer. He has asked to be left out," an official has announced.
The 33-year-old, who announced his retirement from international football after the last Nations Cup in Egypt in February, was named as a replacement for injured Lazio striker Ayodele Makinwa.
He was also called up for the Super Eagles Nations Cup tie against Niger in September in Abuja, after he asked to be included in the squad, but later pulled out due to injury.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu is a major injury doubt for Sunday's encounter in Maseru as he was forced to train with a bandaged thigh Wednesday.
Kanu suffered a knock during his English Premiership club's last league game at Tottenham.
Injury has already ruled out Ukraine-based midfielder Yussuf Ayila and France-based Osaze Odemwingie while a passport issue means John Utaka is also out of the squad.
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