Super Eagles Forward Odion Ighalo, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Semi Ajayi arrived the team’s camp on Monday ahead of Friday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Pirates of Seychelles.
The match taken place at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba, at 4pm, will see the Nigerian team file out without anything to lose as they have already sealed qualification to the tournament in Egypt, in 2019.
Despite booking their place, Nigeria desires to end the qualification series on a high and maintain reputation while using the game to kick –start preparations for AFCON 2019.
Golakeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi also touched down in Asaba, including other home –based professionals such as Ikouwem Utin, Ndifreke Effiong and Valentine Ozornwafor.
The bulk of the invited group of 23 are expected to arrive on Tuesday, with the international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday next week also in mind.
Technical Adviser Gernor Rohr called up 23 players for the two matches, with Ikouwem Utin and Effiong leaping onto the list as a result of injuries to Samuel Kalu and Ola Aina.
In another football story, the Nigeria U23 squad departed the shores of the country from Lagos in the early hours of Monday.
The team led by Head Coach, Imama Amapakabo, will be playing Libya in the first round of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier in the Tunisian city of Bengerdan, on Wednesday.
After camping for almost three weeks, the former Enugu Rangers’ coach opted for a mixture of local and foreign-based professionals for the battle against the Libyans.
Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi top the list with other twenty players.
FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Olawale Oremade (Kwara Utd), Adamu Abubakar (Wikki Tourist), Mohammed Galadima (Nasarawa United)
Defenders: Joshua Akpudje (MFMFC), Ugochukwu Anumudu (Lobi Stars, Makurdi), Oluwadamilare Olatunji (Enyimba FC), Stephen Egbe (Enyimba FC), Adebayo Ojo (Brookes FC, UK) John Lazarus (Lobi Stars, Makurdi) Etiboy Akpan (Akwa United) , Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars, Makurdi)
Midfielders: Kelechi Nwakali (FC Porto B, Portugal), Azubuike Okechukwu (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Orji Okonkwo (Impact Montreal, Canada), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF, Spain), Tosin Kehinde (CD Feirense, Portugal), Fatai Gbadamosi (Shooting Stars FC)
Forwards: David Okereke (Spezia FC Italy), Chidera Ezeh (Portimonense FC, Portugal), Taiwo Awoniyi (Royal Mouscron, Belgium), Muyiwa Olabiran (Tanbov FC, Russia), Kingsley Michael (AC Perugia, Italy) (, Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge FC, Belgium)