Eight NPFL players invited for Super Eagles’ Ecuador, Mexico friendlies

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has invited eight Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) stars for the Super Eagles friendlies against Ecuador and Mexico. 

The Nigerian national team will face Mexico and Ecuador on May 28, 2022, and June 2 respectively. It is the first time the Eagles are playing after their 1-1 home draw against Ghana that sealed their fate of missing the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.

ALSO READ: Longest unbeaten run in football

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who missed the Super Eagles qualifier against Ghana due to injury returns to the side while Francis Uzoho, who took his place, was not invited.

Isa Ali and Ibrahim Buhari are new faces in the defence while midfielders, Babatunde Nosiru of Kwara United, Azubuike Okechukwu of Yeni Malatyaspor, on loan from İstanbul Başakşehir; Chiamaka Madu of Rivers United, Samson Tijani of RB Salzburg, and Alhassan Yusuf of Royal Antwerp all got invited.

See the full list below:

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)

ALSO READ: Skabash! AFCON 2021 awards

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Babatunde Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey); Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC); Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United).