Napoli striker Victor Osimhen will again lead the Super Eagles attack for next month’s AFCON double-header qualifier against Sierra Leone just as FC Midtjylland midfielder Frank Onyeka and Emmanuel Dennis of Club Brugge have been handed a second chance by coach Gernot.
Nigeria will host fellow West Africans Sierra Leone in Benin City on November 13 with the reverse leg in Freetown four days later.
The three-time African champions are top of their qualifying group with six points from two matches.
Osimhen missed this month’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia due to Coronavirus travel restrictions involving his Italian club.
He is the leading scorer in the qualifying series with three goals after scoring twice and providing two assists in the 4-2 demolition of home team Lesotho in November 2019.
Onyeka flopped on his Eagles debut against Algeria this month, while Dennis has been recalled to the team after he failed to shine last year.
However, Nigeria will again be without Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi, who is still sidelined after recently underwent surgery for a groin injury.
Ndidi was also missing for this month’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia and defensive midfielder Onyeka was widely expected to capitalize on his absence to stake a serious claim for a place in the national team only to play so badly against African champions Algeria and be hauled off by halftime.
Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo and Oghenekaro Etebo of Galatasaray are also back after injury.
Switzerland-based goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe is the only uncapped player called up.
There is no place for Genk striker Cyriel Dessers, who made his debut against Tunisia after he opted to play for Nigeria and not Belgium.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano, Switzerland); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, Netherlands); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Standby: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg, Austria); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Ramon Azeez (Granada CF, Spain); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)
