Nigeria squad: Samuel-Osayi, Onyemaechi handed debut call-ups for Portugal friendly

Nigeria head Coach Jose Peseiro has released his 23-man squad for the upcoming friendly with Portugal.

The Portuguese has handed debut call-ups to Boavista’s Bruno Onyemaechi and Fenerbahce defender Bright Samuel-Osayi.

Omonia Nicosia’s Francis Uzoho is one of three goalkeepers to make the list alongside Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye.

Okoye’s Watford team-mate William Troost-Ekong and Ajax’s Calvin Bassey have been included among Peseiro’s defenders, but Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem have both been overlooked.

Empoli defender Tyronne Ebuehi has made an eye-catching return to the team, so has Orlando Pirates centre-back Olisa Ndah.

Also earning recalls to the side are in-form Genk striker Paul Onuachu and Oghenekaro Etebo.

Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers, Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika have all been left out.

As expected, Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi has not been included due to injury.

The match with the World Cup-bound European team is scheduled to take place at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, on Thursday.

The Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Watford FC, England); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates), Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC), Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim), Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United), Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton), Alex Iwobi (Everton), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Oghenekaro Etebo (Aris Thessaloniki)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Terem Moffi (Lorient), Paul Onuachu (Genk), Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli), Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest)