The Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has named skipper, Mikel Obi, alongside 24 other players for the forthcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations showdown in Egypt.
According to a statement by the Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, Rohr has also placed six players on standby.
After a prolonged absence from the Nigerian team, Mikel would be making a comeback to the squad for the 32nd AFCON.
The skipper who led the Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, opted to stay away from the squad after their untimely exit from the global showcase, on the grounds of focusing on his club and his family.
However, it would seem the Nigerian has made up his mind to once again fly the Green and White, following a meeting with Rohr in the United Kingdom.
Rohr retained the players who earned a ticket to the AFCON finals with a game in hand, such as Leon Balogun, Francis Uzoho, Oghenekaro Etebo, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Odion Ighalo and Moses Simon.
The six players placed on standby include, defenders Ikouwem Utin and Valentine Ozornwafor, who are expected to represent Nigeria at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup starting next week in Poland.
Other players on standby are, Bryan Idowu, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, and Theophilus Afelokhai.
The Eagles will take on Senegal in their final pre-AFCON friendly on June 16, before they begin their campaign against Burundi, Guinea, and then Madagascar in Group B of the AFCON.
25 Selected Players For Pre-AFCON Camp
Goalkeepers
Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus)
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United)
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)
Defenders
Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy)
Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)
Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey)
William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy)
Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England)
Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain)
Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)
Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England)
Midfielders
Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England)
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England)
John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards
Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia)
Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium)
Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain)
Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey)
Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China)
Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)
Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France)
Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)
Featured image source: Daily Post Nigeria
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