WCQ: Okoye returns, Sadiq gets first call-up as Finidi invites 23 players for next month's clashes

Super Eagles head coach Finidi George have handed invitations to 23 players ahead of next month's FIFA World Cup qualifier games against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the Squirrels of Benin Republic with Remo Stars defender Sadiq Ismael getting his first national team call-up, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.

Finidi George who was announced as the head coach of the Nigeria national team few weeks ago will face his first major test against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo on Friday, 7th June by 8pm local time before flying to Ivory Coast for the game against Benin Republic 3 days later at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

Finidi who guided Nigeria to a 2-1 win against Ghana and 2-0 defeat to Mali in last month's friendly will hope to turn the Super Eagles qualifers fortune around in both games to end the country's winless streaks in the qualifers.

Making a return to the Super Eagles is goalkeeper Maduka Okoye who took a break from the national team in 2022.

Okoye have been in good form for Udinese this season making series of safes to help keep his team's hope for survival in the Italian Serie A alive.

He'll face stiff competition from AFCON goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali who won the heart of many Nigerians during the last African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Full List

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Sadiq Ismael (Remo Stars FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)

Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France).

By Oluwayemi Omolagba