Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has invited three members of the home-based Super Eagles side which reached the final of 2018 African Nations Championship to the main team ahead of upcoming international friendlies.
Team regular, Ikechukwu Ezenwa who is just returning to training after injuring his knee in the CHAN semi-final game against Sudan has been invited as well as defender Stephen Eze and striker Gabriel Okechukwu who like Ezenwa all won Most Valuable Player awards during the Morocco tournament.
The Football Federation on Wednesday morning released a list of twenty-eight players invited to prosecute friendly games against Poland and Serbia later this month with experienced team members John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Elderson Echiejile in the mix.
Aside Eze and Okechukwu, Al Ahly of Egypt winger Junior Ajayi also earned his first call-up for the senior national team while Torino of Italy midifielder Joel Obi is invited to the national team for the first time in six years. Obi has been plagued by injuries for the better part of past seasons.
South Africa based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi is called up once more alongside RC Deportivo starlet Francis Uzoho to join Ezenwa in the goalkeeping role. Russia-born Brian Idowu who made his debut last November against Argentina is also called up to the team.
Three –time African champions Nigeria will trade tackles with the Bialo-Czerwoni (White and Red) or Eagles, as the Senior National Team of Poland is known, at the 43,000 –capacity Stadium Wroclaw on Friday, 23rd March 2018.
Four days later, the Eagles will take to the pitch against the Senior National Team of Serbia at The Hive, London – home ground of Barnet FC and London Bees.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United)
