Super Eagles have again snubbed on-form strikers Gift Orban and Victor Boniface for next weekend’s AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone, while insisting on calling up skipper Ahmed Musa despite his disappointing numbers at his Turkish club.
Gift Orban scored 20 goals in as many matches for KAA Gent since his arrival from Norway in January, while Boniface was joint top scorer in the UEFA Europa League this season with six goals.
Both players are poised for big-money transfers this summer on the back of their impressive performances.
Some of the other deserving players who ought to get their chance in the Eagles like Alhassan Yusuf (Antwerp) and Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge) were also overlooked.
Otherwise, coach Jose Peseiro has stuck to his core of players for Nigeria to seal qualification to the Nations Cup to be hosted by the Ivory Coast next year.
Skipper Ahmed Musa leads experienced internationals like William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho for the match fixed for Monrovia, Liberia, on June 18.
Nigeria top their qualifying group on nine points and a draw in Liberia will guarantee them a place at the Nations Cup proper in January.
Sierra Leone will need to win this game to stay alive in the qualifiers as they are on five points from four matches.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem/ISR), Victor Sochima (Rivers United), Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: William Ekong (Watford/ENG), Calvin Bassey (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim/GER), Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes/SPA), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto/POR), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC/TUR)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton/ENG), Alex Iwobi (Everton/ENG), Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG), Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG)
Forwards: Moses Simon (FC Nantes/FRA), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF/SPA), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/ITA), Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli/ITA), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City/ENG), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor/TUR)
Ahmed musa is old n expired n should leave d super eagles.he is of no use there,its some ppl in d nfa(no future ambition)who his want an aboki in the team.there are other players in Europe doing better than dat old cow.the coach should know better.he is putting his name n reputation on d line.