Yusuf brings Ideye back to Eagles after 3 years

Salisu Yusuf, interim coach of the Super Eagles, has called up 26 players, headlined by the returning Brown Ideye, for the forthcoming international friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg. 

The list also features regular faces John Mikel Obi, forwards Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo, and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Although he rarely scored himself, Ideye was part of the effective strike partnership that powered Nigeria to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), usually acting as foil for Emmanuel Emenike to finish opponents off. But he was not selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and hasn’t been selected ever since.

He has played for the Super Eagles 25 times, recording five goals.

Ideye almost returned to the team in March 2015, as Coach Stephen Keshi included him in his 28-man list for friendly matches against the Cranes of Uganda and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, but the then West Brom striker pulled out of the squad due to a knee injury.

He has prospered since moving to Olympiacos of Greece – following a bad spell with West Bromwich Albion of England – winning the Greek title (the 43rd in the club’s history) earlier in the month.

Nigeria, African champions on three occasions, take on Les Aiglons of Mali in France on May 27 before flying to Luxembourg to take on that country’s national team on the first day of June.

Yusuf, installed as interim head coach by the NFF last week, picked a relatively young squad that also includes former U-20 skipper Musa Muhammed, former U-20 defender Gbenga Arokoyo, former U-23 midfielder Raheem Lawal, one-cap left-back Kingsley Madu and unknown Portugal-based defender Chidozie Awaziem.

Defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong return, while Ogenyi Onazi, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Moses Simon, Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Aaron Samuel are back to familiar terrain.

The full list of invitees:

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)