Kelechi Iheanacho has been rewarded by the Super Eagles for his red-hot form in Turkey with a recall for a friendly against Russia next month alongside several youngsters as coach Eric Chelle steps up preparations for the 2028 Olympics qualifiers.
Iheanacho is top scorer in the Turkish second division with nine goals.
He will be one of the experienced players on the squad for the trip to Russia on October 6 alongside the likes of captain Wilfred Ndidi, Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika and Moses Simon.
Otherwise, the squad will be dominated by players who are U23, the age bracket for the Olympics qualifiers.
These players include goalkeepers Michael Atata (Ikorodu City) and Samuel James (SJK FC Finland) as well as Victory Akpe (FC Basel Switzerland), Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava Czechia), Suleiman Mubarak (Slavia Praha Czechia) and Stephen Michael (Vendsyssel FF Denmark).
Other fresh call-ups are Norway-based midfielder Igor Wilfred, Benfica sensation Peter Edokpolor as well as strikers Abubakar Umar and Abdullahi Umar, who feature for Famalicao and Hradec Kralove respectively.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Michael Atata (Ikorodu City); Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Isaac James (Alverca FC, Portugal); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford FC, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham FC, England); Abdullahi Bewene (FC Banik Ostrava, Czechia)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Chibuzo Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Stephen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark); Igor Wilfred (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Ridwan Abdulrasaq (Al Wasl, UAE); Suleiman Mubarak (Slavia Prague, Czechia); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City);
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy); Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Abubakar Umar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia)
