It should come as no surprise that Chelsea's Nigerian trio of John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo have all made the Nigerian national team's provisional World Cup squad. Indeed, it would come as a rather substantial shock should any of that group miss out on the Super Eagles' Brazilian venture, so important were they to success at the most recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, but, by virtue of being new, even the unsurprising might be thought of as news.
And so! The BBC report that Stephen Keishi has demonstrated his continued competence in including the three in his 30-man squad, which will play one exhibition match -- against Scotland at Craven Cottage, on May 28th. That, of course, is within easy access of any interested, London-based reader; for those inclined towards prospecting it might be a good opportunity to assess Omeruo in person.
Thirty will be cut to 23 in early June (although, again, all three Blues are likely to survived unscathed), at which point our American audience will get a chance to ape their colleagues in the capital before the travelling party heads south. Barring a quick transfer, Mikel, Moses and Omeruo will not cross swords with a Chelsea teammate in the group stages, but if the Super Eagles gel like they did the last time out, it's not out of the question that they meet a familiar foe in the knockout stages.
That said, we're now several leagues ahead of ourselves, well beyond the tight confines of 'news'. And therefore, reverting to type:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Daniel Akpeyi, Chigozie Agbim.
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Juwon Oshaniwa, Joseph Yobo, Kunle Odunlami.
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi, Ramon Azeez, Ogenyi Onazi, Joel Obi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Ejike Uzoenyi, Nosa Igiebor, Sunday Mba, Reuben Gabriel, Michael Babatunde.
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor, Peter Odemwingie, Michael Uchebo, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor.