The Nigerian Football Federation have revealed Everton striker Victor Anichebe was left out of the World Cup squad because of injury.

The 22-year-old was one of the most notable omissions when Swedish boss Lars Lagerback named his final 23-man party.

But Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, the chairman of the technical committee at the NFF, told the Nigerian Tribune: "He was substituted in the game against Saudi Arabia (last week) because of injury. When he went for a scan in Liverpool, it revealed a cracked chin which would take time to heal, and the coach had no option but to drop him."