Ideye returns to Super Eagles

West Brom forward, Brown Ideye, makes a return to the Super Eagles after he was included in the 28-man list for the friendlies against Bolivia and South Africa in March.

Ideye, who last played for the national team in 2013 after the Africa Cup of Nations triumph over Burkina Faso, continued his rich vein of goalscoring form last weekend as his first-half header gave his Barclays Premier League side all three points against Stoke City the team of compatriot Victor Moses – who is on standby on the Eagles’ list.

Goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama heads the list that also includes Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi and Ahmed Musa.

Odion Ighalo of Championship side Watford, Germany-based Anthony Ujah and Leon Balogun as well as China-based Aaron Samuel, who scored two goals in the futile campaign for a place at the 30th AFCON, are listed.

There are 18 overseas-based and 10 home-based professionals on the list, with includes former junior international Akeem Latifu and Enyimba duo Kingsley Sokari and Mfon Udoh.

Notable omissions are John Obi Mikel who’s just back from long injury layoff and Turkey-based Emmanuel Emenike who has struggled for goals lately.

Nigeria will meet Bolivia on March 26 in Uyo and travel to South Africa on Friday, March 27 for the battle with the Bafana Bafana in Nelspruit on Sunday, March 29.

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Theophilus Afelokhai (Kano Pillars); Chidiebere Eze (Ifeanyi Ubah United)

Defenders: Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Nelson Ogbonnaya (Heartland FC); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Akeem Latifu (Aalesunds FC, Norway); Leon Balogun (Darmstadt 98, Germany)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Steven Ukoh (Biel-Bienne FC, Switzerland); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine); Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks FC); Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China); Brown Ideye (West Brom, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne, Germany); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Ubong Moses (Kano Pillars); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves); Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC)

Standby: Victor Moses (Stoke City, England)