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Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo was named in the Super Eagles squad to face Ghana later this month because he would add experience to the team, according to interim Nigeria manager Augustine Eguavoen.
The Al Hilal winter signing has worked with Eguavoen before as he was part of the Dream Team squad, coached by the 1994 AFCON winner, that failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games.
There was a little distraction before the Super Eagles headed to Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations with Ighalo's former club Al-Shabab standing their ground over the non-release of the striker to the Nigeria Football Federation, citing a FIFA rule that states that clubs must be notified of call-ups fifteen days before the start of a tournament.
"Up there we've got Osimhen, Sadiq, and the experience of Ighalo. I also spoke with Olayinka as well. I know their qualities," Eguavoen said to Elegbete TV Sports.
"Odion Ighalo last played for me U23s but I've watched him play wherever he was, up to Manchester United and where he is now.
"We have to see him closely again not that the door is shut for everyone out there, so this is only a game."
Eguavoen explained the composition of his team to face Ghana, saying that he has picked two players for each outfield position and selected three goalkeepers.
"We have two players in each position, three goalkeepers and all the other ones on standby, then we have a balanced team.
"If we now take Ejuke and now have four on the left side, two on the right side, one left-back, you have an unbalanced team so it's just about balancing at this point in time.
"Ejuke is still the revelation whether he's on standby list or not, I'm not going to give you 100 percent my plan."
"If we now take Ejuke and now have four on the left side, two on the right side, one left-back, you have an unbalanced team so it's just about balancing at this point in time.
"Ejuke is still the revelation whether he's on standby list or not, I'm not going to give you 100 percent my plan."
The average age of Nigeria's latest squad is approximately 26 years and Ighalo is the third oldest player at 32, behind Daniel Akpeyi (35) and Leon Balogun (33).
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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