Super Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, was the most conspicuous omission by Gernot Rohr in his 24-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) double-header qualifiers against Libya.
Mikel, 31, hasn’t featured for the national team since the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The Tianjin TEDA midfielder missed last month’s 3-0 thrashing of Seychelles and is set to continue his reported exile.
In his absence, Ahmed Musa will continue to wear the armband, assisted by Ogenyi Onazi.
Alex Iwobi will return alongside Moses Simon and Italy–based duo William Ekong and Olaoluwa Aina.
Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only home-based professional involved.
Nigeria host the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on October 13 with the return scheduled for the 18,000 –capacity Stade Taïeb Mhiri in the city of Sfax, Tunisia three days later.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England)
