His ability to hang upside down while the opposition gawk was the clincher
Lars Lagerbeck named the Super Eagles 23 man squad. Former Toon striker, Obafemi Martins linked to Arsenal before he finally left for Wolfsburg was included the squad.
Martins has been overshadowed by the sharpshooting duo of Edin Dzeko and Grafite at Wolfsburg but he quietly notched up a reputation scoring some very important goals early in the season before injury forced him out in November.
Also out are Real Zaragoza’s Ikechukwu Uche and Everton’s Victor Anichebe.
However, Anichebe’s team mates Joseph Yobo and Aiyegbeni Yakubu get the nod. Former Arsenal and present Pompey stalwart, Nwankwo Kanu made the cut. The Nigeria squad boasts a strong Premiership presence.
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva, Israel)
Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers, England), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Rabiu Afolabi (SV Salzburg, Austria)
Midfielders: Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), 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), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany), Victor Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain)