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.
Credit:- Breaking Times
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