By Daily Sports on April 27, 2016

Nigeria interim coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 26 players for next month's international friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg.

Heading the list are Brown Ideye and William Troost-Ekong who had been overlooked by coaches in recent games. Ideye last played for the Eagles under former coach Stephen Keshi and has not been invited since he missed out on the 2014 World Cup squad. 

He recently won the Greek league title with Olympiakos.

Also making a return to the senior national team is Raheem Lawal, while former Flying Eagles stars Gbenga Arokoyo, Chidozie Awaziem and Musa Muhammed have been handed a call up for the first time.

Only goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa made the cut from the domestic Nigeria Professional Football League.

Surprisingly, Kenneth Omeruo who has been ruled out of the Rio 2016 Olympics owing to a groin injury got a call up to participate in the friendlies alongside, Leon Balogun, Ogenyi Onazi and captain John Obi Mikel.

Nigeria will take on Mali in France on May 27 before facing Luxembourg five days later.
THE FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey); Leon Balogun (Mainz 05, Germany); Gbenga Arokoyo (Gaziantepspor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Wilfred Ndidi KRC Genk, Belgium); Raheem Lawal (Osmanlispor FK, Turkey); Etebo Oghenekaro (SC Farense, Portugal)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (West Ham United, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Aminu Umar (Osmanlispor FK, Turkey); Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Olympiakos FC, Greece)

•Sourced from Goal.com. Photo shows Brown Ideye.

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 27, 2016

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