Norway-based midfielder Fengor Ogude and Elderson Echiejile from Portuguese club Sporting Braga are top of the new list of overseas-based pros to be invited for Nigeria’s next game.
Officials informed MTNFootball.com that Coach Stephen Keshi is shopping for not only quality players but also committed players as he rebuilds the national team in time for the start of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June.
“Fengor would have been called up for the Rwanda game but for the fact that he was just coming back from injury,” a top official disclosed.
“While Taye Taiwo was preferred to Elderson for the game but after what happened in Kigali, the younger Elderson will now get his chance to prove he is good enough to keep Taiwo out of the first team.”
“The commitment of some of the foreign-based pros is very much in doubt,” added another official.
Left back Elderson has scored thrice in the Portuguese league for Braga, who are third on the table, and also was on target twice in the UEFA Europa League.
And this is besides being one of the most consistent Nigerian players in Europe this year with over 16 appearances so far.
Ogude, on the hand, impressed Keshi during his first two games in charge of the country’s team against Botswana and Zambia.
The former Warri Wolves star is very versatile as he can play in the defence, midfield or even attack.
In June, the Eagles will play two World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Malawi as well as the return leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda.