Akwuegbu recalled by Super Eagles

Akwuegbu has been given another chance by Nigeria

Nigeria have recalled Benedict Akwuegbu of Austrian club Grazer AK for the crucial World Cup tie against Ghana next month.

The 26-year-old striker, who was first capped at the last African Nations Cup hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, has been given another chance to stake a claim for a place in the star-studded Super Eagles.

Akwuegbu, nicknamed 'Austrian Bomber', has been in fine scoring form for Grazer AK in the last three seasons but has only managed to find the back of the net twice for Nigeria in over a dozen appearances.

Nigeria's Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere picked Akwuegbu ahead of more established German-based strikers Jonathan Akpoborie of Wolfsburg and Victor Ikpeba of Borussia Dortmund, who have failed to impress recently and not been entirely happy about missing club games only to be sitting on the Super Eagles bench.

Winter break

However, with the Austrian league having been on a winter break for nearly three months, it seems an odd time to hand a call-up to Akwuegbu.

Emeka Ifejiagwa, who suffered a leg injury during the Eagles training for the 2000 Nations Cup, has also been given another chance to be part of the team.

Okoronkwo will battle with recalled Ifejiagwa

The big defender, who has joined Akpoborie at Wolfsburg, is expected to battle recently-capped Isaac Okoronkwo for the chance to partner Derby County's Taribo West in central defence.

Besides these changes, the 18-man squad is the same that took on both Zambia and Sudan last month.

Cracker

The squad will begin training on March 5 in Lome, Togo, for the all-important March 11 cracker against old foes Black Stars of Ghana in Accra.

Nigeria lead their qualifying group with six points from three matches, while Ghana are placed behind Liberia with three points and a game in hand.

However, Liberia are due to take over this weekend if they do not lose at home to Sierra Leone.

Goalkeepers: Ike Shorunmu (Besiktas/Tur), Peterside Idah (Tembisa Classic/Rsa)
Defenders: Taribo West (Derby County/Eng), Isaac Okoronkwo (Shakhtar Donetsk/Ukr), Ifeanyi Udeze (POAK Salonica/Gre), Emeka Ifejiagwa (Wolfsburg/Ger), Godwin Okpara (Paris Saint Germain/Fra), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea/Eng)
Midfielders: Garba Lawal (Roda JC/Ned), Sunday Oliseh (Borussia Dortmund/Ger), Augustine Okocha (Paris Saint Germain/Fra)
Strikers: Benedict Akwuegbu (Grazer AK/Aut), Tijjani Babangida (Gencerbirligi/Tur), Victor Agali (Hansa Rostock/Ger), Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal/Eng), Finidi George (Real Mallorca/Spa), Julius Aghahowa (Shakhtar Donetsk/Ukr), Bina Ajuwa (Benfica/Por)