The list of players that Venezuela plans to use to prosecute the friendly match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria has been released.
The match scheduled for Marlins Park in Miami, USA on November 14, will be used as a tune-up match ahead of the Fifa World Cup qualifiers for Venezuela and by Coach Stephen Keshi to ascertain some fringe players and some that are coming back to form like Obafemi Martins, ahead of January's Africa Cup of Nations.
The list of 22 players will be led by arguably Venezuela’s best ever player, Juan Arango, who plays in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach.
The team also includes Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Amoerbieta, Rubin Kazan's Salomon Rondon. There is also a return of Cesar Gonzalez
Also the list includes nine uncapped players as Coach Farias bloods new players into the team.
The official list of players expected to represent Nigeria has not been officially released but the likes of Martins, Obinna Nsofor, Kalu Uche and a host of others are likely to get a look in.
Raheem Lawal is another player relishing donning the green and white jersey again. Adana Demirspor’s new midfielder has been out of the equation to sort out his contractual problems with his former Panish club, Atletico Baleares.
“I am happy that I am being considered by Coach Keshi for the match against Venezuela,” Lawal told Goal.com.
He believes he has a place in the national team and sees the friendly match as a very vital one in his national team career.
“I hope to make my mark again in the team as I will like to be part of the Super Eagles for the Nations Cup,” he added.
The home-based players will begin camping this week in Abuja and the foreign contingent is expected to meet up with the caoching crew and the local players in Miami on November 12.
The Nigeria Football Federation is also planning more friendly matches for the team, which will camp in Portugal for the Nations Cup