LAGOS, Jan 12: Nigeria coach Berti Vogts named a record nine England-based players in his 23-man squad on Friday for this month's African Nations Cup finals in Ghana.

The were no major surprises in the list of players released by the Nigerian Football Association for the tournament.

Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu is the longest serving squad member after being included for his fifth Nations Cup finals.

He is joined by his club team mate John Utaka, the Everton pair Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Joseph Yobo, Dickson Etuhu of Sunderland, Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins and Chelsea's John Obi Mikel from the English Premier League.

From the English Championship (second division), Vogts selected Danny Shittu of Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Seyi Olofinjana.

Forward Mannasseh Ishiaku of German club MSV Duisburg was left out despite scoring in a warm-up international against Sudan on Wednesday.

Nigeria, among the pre-tournament favourites, meet the Ivory Coast in their opening Group B match in Sekondi on Jan. 21 and will also face Mali and Benin in their first phase matches.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel)

Defenders: Rabiu Afolabi (Sochaux, France), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France), Ifeanyi Emeghara (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion, Switzerland), Danny Shittu (Watford, England), Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England),

Midfielders: Richard Eromoigbe (Levski Sofia, Bulgaria), Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland, England), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea, England), Onyekachi Okonkwo (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Seyi Olofinjana (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Ike Uche (Getafe, Spain)Forwards: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Stephen Makinwa (Lazio, Italy), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United, England), Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England).—Reuters