Veteran midfielder, Mikel Obi, has been named in a 25-man provisional Super Eagles squad for the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt.
Six players have been placed on standby according to a statement released on Tuesday by director of communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire.
Mikel, who captained the team at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia last year summer, has not played for Nigeria since the country’s 1-2 defeat by Argentina in Saint Petersburg.
However, a recent meeting with Coach Gernot Rohr in the UK sealed the former Chelsea player’s return to the three–times African champions, with the possibility of adding to his 85 international caps.
Rohr has largely kept faith with the players who earned a ticket to the AFCON finals with a match to spare.
Some of the regulars who made the cut are goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.
All invited players and officials are to report in Asaba, Delta State on June 2, ahead of the team’s friendly with the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Stephen Keshi Stadium on June 8.
The team will depart for Egypt on June 9 aboard a chartered aircraft to set up a final training camp in the city of Ismailia.
They are to tackle Senegal in their final pre-AFCON friendly on June 16.
Nigeria confront Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar in that order in Group B of the 32nd AFCON holding in four Egyptian cities from June 21 to July 19.
25-man Super Eagles provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa).
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy).
Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England).
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain).
On standby: Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC).
