Three Chelsea players named to Nigerian team for ACoN

Three Chelsea players have been named to the initial 32 man squad for Nigeria in advance of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, and loanee Kenneth Omeruo will all be in consideration for the tournament, with the final 23 players due to be named by January 9. The tournament itself runs from January 19 to February 10.

Moses and Mikel are as close to locks for the final squad as possible, while Omeruo is still a bit of a wild card. He'd certainly appear to have a future with the Eagles, but I'm a bit surprised to see that future potentially starting already. The full Nigerian provisional squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC)

Defenders : Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Danny Shittu (Millwall FC, England); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars)

Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Raheem Lawal (Adana Demirspor, Turkey); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars); Rabiu Ibrahim (Celtic FC, Scotland)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Uche Kalu (Rizespor, Turkey); Bright Dike (Portland Timbers, U.S.); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle FC, England); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers).