2 months ago
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New Al-Kholood FC of Saudi defender William Troost-Ekong is back in the national team for the first time since the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, as well as Nottingham Forest duo Olaoluwa Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi and unsettled Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
They were among the 23 players listed by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Benin Republic and Rwanda on September 7 and September 10, respectively.
Awoniyi has not been called since the 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on match-day 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November last year due to injury.
The list has three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards.
AFCON 2023 revelation Stanley Nwabali will be joined by Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, while former Bendel Insurance keeper Amas Obasogie, who just completed a move to Ethiopia, has also been recalled.
This year’s AFCON’s Player of the Tournament, Toost-Ekong, is joined in defence by Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Aina, and Olisah Ndah of Orlando Pirates, who make a return to the team as well.
Leicester City midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi are the midfielders invited for the games.
In attack, Osimhen and Awoniyi are joined by AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze, new Sevilla man Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, and Ademola Lookman.
According to the NFF, all the players are expected to report to camp in Uyo on Monday, September 2, five days before the first game against the Benin Republic set for Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in the Akwa Ibom State capital.
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