Sunday Oliseh has included Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins, in his latest list of 23 players invited to tackle Swaziland in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Martins who clocked 31 on Wednesday, has not featured for the Super Eagles since March 2013 despite his remarkable run of form in the Major League Soccer.
The former Newcastle United striker comes in for Emmanuel Emenike who quit the national team in rather controversial circumstances last week.
Conspicuously absent is West Ham winger, Victor Moses, who opted out of the friendly fixtures against the DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium over injury concerns.
Oliseh has now moved swiftly to axe the 24-year-old, suggesting his discontent at the player’s action to ignore national call-up.
A curious omission is Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho was overwhelmingly overlooked a day after he scored for the Citizens in their 5-1 demolition of Crystal Palace in the League Cup.
There were places for regular suspects John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi and skipper Ahmed Musa – while youngsters Wilfred Ndidi, Dele Alampasu, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon also retained their places.
Six home-based players who helped the country qualify for the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda also made the cut.
They include Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Kalu Orji of Enugu Rangers, Sharks defender, Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo of Abia Warriors and attackers Paul Onobi and Ezekiel Bassey of Sunshine Stars and Enyimba FC respectively.
Nigeria face a tricky away tie in the first leg in Lobamba on Friday, November 13 before hosting the Swazi’s at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt four days later.
Oliseh has directed all players to arrive at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, November 8 as training commences same day by 7pm.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Dele Alampasu (Club de Sportivo Feirense, Portugal)
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers FC); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders, USA)
