Super Eagles head coach, Austin Eguavoen, has named striker Victor Osimhen in the squad for Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda this month.
Also returning to the team are Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar and defender Gabriel Osho.
Osimhen, who missed Nigeria’s last matches against Libya in October due to an injury sustained with his club Galatasaray, will bolster the squad.
Osho steps in for the injured Semi Ajayi, while Sadiq replaces Taiwo Awoniyi, who was left out of the lineup.
Defender Victor Collins from Nasarawa United, making his debut, is the only home-based player included in the squad.
The Super Eagles need just one point from these matches to secure their place in next year’s AFCON, following CAF’s decision to award Nigeria three points from the abandoned match against Libya.
Nigeria will take on Benin Republic at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday, November 14, before hosting Rwanda on matchday six at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Squad List:
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England).
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).
