CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has left out veteran defender Joseph Yobo from his starting line up as the team opens its World campaign against Iran today Monday June 16.

Yobo, who played in Nigeria’s World Cup campaigns in 2002 and 2010, had been widely expected to captain the team, but that honour now goes to goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Keshi has opted for an attacking starting team in its first Group F match at the Arena da Baixada. He has picked three forwards in Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses.

The Iran team being fielded by coach Carlos Queiroz appears more defensive with two defensive midfielders in captain Javad Nekounam and Andranik Teymourian. The biggest surprise in the Iran team was that Alireza Haghighi was picked as goalkeeper.

Teams:

Iran: Alireza Haghighi, Khosro Heydari, Jalal Hosseini, Amirhossein Sadeghi, Pejman Montazeri, Ehsan Haji Safi, Javad Nekounam, Andranik Teymourian, Mehrdad Pooladi, Ashkan Dejagah, Reza Ghoochannejhad

Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, John Obi Mikel, Ramon Azeez, Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses