Domenech: Malouda deserves call-up for friendly

France coach Raymond Domenech says Florent Malouda demanded a recall for Tuesday's friendly against Nigeria because of his excellent recent form for Chelsea.

The 28-year-old Malouda has made all 44 of his international appearances under Domenech, but the pair fell out after France's calamitous European Championship campaign last year.

Malouda was criticized by Domenech for his poor form at Euro 2008, and Malouda returned the favor by blasting Domenech's tactics for being too negative. Malouda had even speculated that his international career could not continue under Domenech.

But Malouda's resurgence under then Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink left Domenech with almost no choice but to recall him.

Malouda set up Didier Drogba's equalizing goal in Saturday's FA Cup final win over Everton, and he scored three goals in the last four Premier League games for Chelsea as part of a three-pronged attack that also featured France forward Nicolas Anelka.

"You have to consistent, and I am," Domenech said after selecting Malouda for the first time since October. "I always said that if the players weren't picked, it was because their form was not good enough or others were better than them. That was Flo's problem."

"When players perform, they are called up. We've been watching him."

Patrick Vieira, who could make his 107th appearance for France against Nigeria in Saint-Etienne on Tuesday, has also returned to the squad.

"It's always a pleasure to come back to the French team," Vieira said Sunday.

The 32-year-old Vieira, who struggled for playing time with Inter Milan this season, has played only two friendlies for France in the past 18 months, missing Euro 2008 and all the World Cup qualifiers so far.

Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, the French league's top scorer this season with 24 goals, could start after setting up Franck Ribery's winning goal in a scrappy 1-0 win over Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier on April 1.

Lyon winger Sidney Govou also returns after several months out with a right Achilles tendon injury, but Thierry Henry has pulled out with a knee problem. Domenech has not yet called up a replacement for Henry, France's highest ever scorer with 48 goals.

France also plays Turkey in Lyon on Friday, giving Domenech room to experiment. While Nigeria takes on Kenya in a World Cup qualifier at home in Abuja on Sunday.

Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu has a strong squad. Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins could lead the attack alongside veteran Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu, but Michael Eneramo, who impressed in Friday's 1-1 draw with Ireland, will not feature.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo and Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi _ both involved in FA Cup action on Saturday _ joined the squad late on Sunday night.

"What is important is the game against Kenya, and we should not forget that," Amodu said.

In the third round of African qualifying, Nigeria drew 0-0 with Mozambique in Maputo, and Tunisia won 2-1 in Kenya.