Michael Eneramo, who plays for Tunisian giants Esperance, has been dropped by Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Officials had initially confirmed that Hoffenheim’s Chinedu Obasi would be the player to miss out on the biennial tournament which kicks off this weekend.
But according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman Ademola Olajire, the 23-man squad was only finalised on Monday.
“The coach has dropped Eneramo after three days of training at the team’s Riverside Hotel and Spa in Durban, South Africa,” Olajire told BBC Sport.
“The full squad has since been ratified by the Confederation of African Football, so there is no confusion or whatsoever.
“Hopefully this will set the record straight, and importantly players and officials are expected to leave Durban for Angola on January 8.”
Coach Shaibu Amodu had delayed naming his final squad for the biennial tournament while Obafemi Martins’ fitness was assessed by the team doctors.
Martins, who plays for Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga, recently had surgery on a shin injury and his availability was in doubt.
But the former Newcastle United striker is now included in the squad after he was certified fit to play in Angola.
Nigeria is going to Angola with a team made up completely of foreign based players.
The Super Eagles begin their Group C campaign against defending champions Egypt on 12 January before taking on Benin and then Mozambique.
Nigeria squad:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel) Bamidele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel) Austin Ejide (unattached)
Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Danny Shittu (Bolton, England), Obinna Nwaneri , Yusuf Mohammed (both FC Sion, Switzerland), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France) Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France).
Midfielders: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England) Sani Kaita (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia) Yusuf Atanda Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Oluwaseyi George Olofinjana (Hull City, England), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain).
Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Germany)
