Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi has been invited for Nigeria’s friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg alongside Manchester City compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho.

The England based duo will be joined by Odion Ighalo – who recently lost his father – and returning Olympiakos forward Brown Ideye who recently won the League in Greece. Since missing out of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 after a victorious outing in AFCON 2013, Ideye has been overlooked by the national team coaches.

Interim Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 26 players for the two international friendly games next month and it is surprising that he has just one player from the Nigeria Professional Football League – Ikechukwu Ezenwa of Sunshine Stars. Enyimba’s Theophilus Afolekhai was not selected despite his heroics in Sousse.

Although the bigger surprise is seeing Kenneth Omeruo who has been ruled out of the Rio 2016 Olympics due to Injury. Gbenga Arokoyo, Chidozie Awaziem and Musa Muhammed received their first senior call ups.

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)

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

Enjoy.

By @AmosCP

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