Yusuf invites Mikel, Ideye and uncapped Chiedozie Awaziem for Super Eagles Friendlies

New invitee Chiedozie Awaziem of FC Porto

Nigeria have called up uncapped Turkey-based defender Musa Mohammed and Chiedozie Awaziem from Porto, while Olympiacos striker Brown Ideye has been recalled for friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg next month.

Mohammed was captain of the country’s U17 and U20 teams, while relatively unknown Awaziem is now on the first-team squad of top Portuguese club Porto.

Ideye has revived his career at Greek champions Olympiacos after a difficult time at English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.

He last featured for Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which Nigeria won.

The three –time African champions take on Les Aiglons of Mali in France on 27th May before flying to Luxembourg to take on that country’s team on the first day of June.

Caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf has also kept faith with skipper Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and England-based youngsters Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi.

Defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong return, while Ogenyi Onazi, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Moses Simon, Victor Moses and Aaron Samuel are back to familiar terrain.

ALL THE INVITEES:

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 (Olympiacos FC, Greece)