The national team technical crew has begun the gradual process of elimination by substitution when on Tuesday afternoon, two players were asked to go for low productivity while four new ones were called up to strengthen the squad ahead of the CHAN tourney in South Africa next month.

The two players dropped are midfielder Mohammed Ajia of Bayelsa United and Elkanemi’s  defender, Reuben Ogbonnaya.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi, who spoke through his assistant, Dan ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, said there was little or no time to prepare the squad hence the need to quickly identify tournament materials.

From left: Super Eagles Assistant Coaches, Ike Shorunmu; Daniel Amokachi and Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, at a media chat on 2014 Fifa world cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ethiopia, in Abuja recently.

The four players who are expected to join the squad in Abuja immediately are the Bendel Insurance duo of Obannu Erhune, who stars in the central defence position for the Benin side and his teammate, Ikeleji Bello, who is a defensive midfielder.

Others are Warri Wolves Ewenike Achibi also a midfielder and Mfon Udoh who recently crossed from Akwa United to Enyimba of Aba.

“We have been tracking these players for some time now and we want to give them a chance to prove themselves at a critical point like this.  We hope they won’t disappoint”, Amokachi said.

More players will be dropped  after today’s  test match against Niger Tornadoes of Minna.