Interim head coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf has expressed confidence that the team would impress in the two international friendly matches against Mali and Luxemburg in May 27 and June 1respectively.
The Super Eagles will line up against Mali at the Stade de Richon in Roune on May 27th and then play the Luxembourg national side four days later as the side prepares for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The former El-Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba FC coach feels the friendly matches will be beneficial to the team in the long run as the World Cup qualifiers approach.
“The two friendly matches are important to us and I believe we will do well so as to improve on our standings on the Fifa rankings.” Yusuf said.
Yusuf was named as the caretaker Chief coach alongside Kennedy Boboye, Imama Amapakabo and Alloy Agu to lead the team out with Shuaibu Amodu as Technical Adviser of the team.
Nigeria missed out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon after Egypt nicked the sole Group G ticket and condemned the Super Eagles to a successive Afcon miss.
To ensure a good and balanced team is in place, Yusuf has recalled Brown Ideye to the team.
The Olympiakos forward has been left out of the Super Eagles for more than two years.
Yusuf explained that the coaching crew took time to decide on the choice of Ideye and the other 25 players for the international friendly matches.
There are also recalls for Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong.
The others called up includes skipper John Mikel Obi, forwards Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme. Also listed are Ogenyi Onazi, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Moses Simon, Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Aaron Samuel.
The list is also made up of former U-20 skipper Musa Muhammed, former U-20 defender Gbenga Arokoyo, former U-23 midfielder Raheem Lawal, Kingsley Madu and unknown Portugal –based defender Chidozie Awaziem.
