Hull City midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has been left out of Nigeria’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad.

The Super Eagles squad was named by coach Lars Lagerback in the capital, Abuja, on Monday.

Fit-again Everton striker Victor Anichebe has been recalled along with John Utaka, the Portsmouth forward who was left out of the Nations Cup.

Lukman Haruna, the under-17 World Cup-winning captain in 2007, has also made the cut.

This is Lagerback’s first Nigerian squad since taking over from Shaibu Amodu who was sacked after leading to third place at the Nations Cup in Angola in January.

Nigeria play Argentina, Greece and South Korea in Group B of the World Cup.

Two locally-based players – goalkeeper Akpan Bassey and defender Terna Suswan – are named in the squad, which will delight fans who had called for the inclusion of some players from the 2010 West African (Wafu) Cup team.

Assistant coach Austin Eguavoen defended Lagerback’s first selection.

“We have travelled and have monitored our players for the last two months and we must admit it was not easy, but we have chosen players who give us options everywhere,” Eguavoen told BBC Sport.

“There have been injury concerns as well as other issues but from defence to attack we have chosen carefully.

“This is a team the people of Nigeria can be proud of.”

Nigeria WC squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva, Israel), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United, Nigeria)

Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (OG Nice, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg, Austria), Terna Suswan (Lobi Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Brown Ideye (FC Sochaux, France), Peter Utaka (Odense Boldklub, Denmark), , Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Sani Kaita (Alaniya, Russia), Haruna Lukman (AS Monaco, France), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), Victor Anichebe (Everton, England), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Victor Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain)

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