Millwall's Championship promotion push has been given a boost after Nigeria said they would leave Lions captain Danny Shittu out of their African Nations Cup squad.
Nigeria will also leave Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi out, and said both players are not interested in playing in this month's competition.
The duo were named in a preliminary squad for the tournament in South Africa but officials said today that neither player would be selected in the final 23-strong party due to be named by coach Stephen Keshi on Wednesday.
"The player did not get in touch with us," Nigeria spokesman Ben Alaiya said of Ameobi while Shittu's (above) written request to be allowed to continue playing for second tier Millwall has now been agreed by the national team.
The tournament starts on January 19.
