Nigeria name star-less squad

Will fans be happy that the big names are out?

Eniwoke Ibagere BBC Sport Online in Lagos

The Nigeria Football Association has invited 43 players for two Super Eagles' friendlies against Jamaica and Egypt later this month.

17 of those are from overseas, but none of the Eagles established players have been included.

Nigeria's coach Christian Chukwu told journalists he wants to use both warm-ups to "see in action many of our untested foreign-based players."

Nigeria are still trying to build a new side after a disastrous World Cup.

Chukwu is testing new blood

Their next goal is to qualify for the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia.

The Jamaican friendly would be the third meeting between both countries.

Nigeria 1-0 Jamaica

In 1998 the Reggae Boyz held the Eagles to a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Kingston.

But Nigeria beat them 1-0 in London last May during their preparations for Korea and Japan.

Nigeria were supposed to have played Egypt's Pharaohs before the Nations Cup in Mali, but pulled out after the Eagles players had a dispute with the FA over money.

Chukwu said training would start at their camp in Ota town, on the outskirts of Lagos, on Sunday.

The Eagles play Jamaica on 20 November in Lagos and five days later face Egypt in the northern city of Kano.

Overseas invitees:

Ikpe Ekong (Reggianna, Italy), Ifeanyi Ekwueme (Poland-based), Bosun Ayeni (Brondby, Denmark), Bina Ajunwa (France-based), Joseph Enakhire (Standard Liege, Belgium), Francis Kumbur (Yeovil FC, England), Chibuike Okeke (Union Berlin, Germany), Bright Igbinadolor (Finland-based), Haruna Doda (Santa Clara, Portugal), Chukwudi Nworgu and Tony Alegbe (both Mettaluril, Ukraine), Emmanuel Izuagha (Germany-based), Chukwukere Ndubuisi (Malta-based), Sunny Ibeji (Al-Ahly, Egypt), Benson Ani (Union Madeira, Portugal), Uche Kalu (Wisla Krakow, Poland) and Onyedika Ogbulie (Dubai FC, UAE).