Mikel and Moses makes lists of invited players for october friendly

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The Chelsea midfielder and West Ham forward were included in the list of Eagles to face the Indomitable Lions and Red Devils in October friendlies in Belgium

Coach Sunday Oliseh has invited 24 players for next month's international friendly games against Cameroon and DR Congo.

Heading the list are Mikel Obi and Victor Moses who had been overlooked by Nigeria this year owing to lack of regular playing time for their respective English Premier League outfits.

All making a return to the senior national team are Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson Echiejile and Odion Ighalo – with former Flying Eagles star Abdulahi Shehu handed a call up for the first time.

Others are Vincent Enyeama, Leon Balogun, Rabiu Ibrahim, Godfrey Oboabona, Ahmed Musa and Rabiu Ibrahim.

Six players from the Nigeria Professional Football League made the cut and they include, Femi Thomas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Paul Onobi, Prince Aggrey, Austin Oboroakpo and Chima Akas.

However, Solomon Kwambe, Gbolahan Salami, Haruna Lukman were excluded from the squad that would try the Indomitable Lions and Red Devils for size.

Nigeria will take on Cameroon in a friendly in Brussels, Belgium on October 11, and will also face Congo three days earlier.

The winner of the preliminary round between Swaziland and Djibouti will host the Super Eagles on November 9 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup first round qualifier, with the Eagles hosting the return leg in Nigeria eight days later.

All invited players are expected to report in Belgium on Monday.

 

THE FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (West Ham United, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)