Nigeria U23 defender, Kelechi John was on duty for Rio Ave in the Portuguese Liga Revelacao from start to end on Friday.

John put up a solid performance in central defence to help Rio Ave beat Sporting Lisbon 2-1 and the result means Rio Ave are still maintaining their position at the top of the Revelacao.

Since the player made his debut for Nigeria he has been training regularly with the first team but yet to make a Primeira Liga appearance in Portugal.

He was invited by Dream Team VII manager Imama Amapakabo for the double-header U23 AFCON qualifiers against Libya in March.

He could not play the first leg in Tunisia due to passport issues which Nigeria lost 2-0 but was hand for the reverse fixture five days later which Nigeria won 4-0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba following Victor Osimhen's hat-trick and David Okereke's lone effort which guaranteed Nigeria 's progress to the next round of qualifying for the Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations.