Arsenal's Kelechi Nwakali may make World Cup squad after being invited for Atletico Madrid friendly

ARSENAL mercurial playmaker Kelechi Nwakali looks set to make his debut for Nigeria after he was called up for the Super eagles friendly against Atletico Madrid taking place at Uyo on Tuesday next week.

As part of a rebuilding plan to uncover fresh talent for the future, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has entered into an arrangement with Spain's La Liga to play several hybrid friendlies a year. On May 22, the first of these will take place, featuring a squad of young and upcoming Nigerian stars.

Among those called up for the match are the highly talented on-loan Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali alongside his elder brother Chidiebere, who spent the last season on loan to Scottish side Aberdeen from English Premier League giants Manchester City. It also included NAC Breda forward Sadiq Umar listed alongside seven other professionals in a squad dominated by home-based players.

There was also a return for Austria Wien’s forward Alhassan Ibrahim and Kasimpasa of Turkey forward Emem Eduok. It is not yet clear if any of the invited players would be allowed to be added to the 30-man provisional squad Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr just announced for the 2018 World Cup.

On Wednesday, Coach Rohr announced a list of 30 players in his provisional squad for the World Cup from which 23 will be picked to represent Nigeria in Russia. Fifa allows teams to name 35 players in their provisional list, which will later be whittled down to 23 when the tournament begins.

Super Eagles B team to face Atletico Madrid

Olufemi Kayode (Lobi Stars)

Olorunleke Ojo (Akwa United)

Olufemi Thomas (Rangers International)

Musa Muhammed (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

Stanley Okorom (MFM FC)

Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars)

Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC)

Adeleye Olamilekan (FC IfeanyiUbah)

Austin Opara (MFM FC)

Isiaka Oladuntoye (Enyimba FC)

Chinedu Ajana (Katsina United)

Raphael Ayagwa (Plateau United)

Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United)

Kelechi Nwakali (MVV Maastricht, Netherlands)

Alhassan Ibrahim (FK Austrian Wien, Austria)

Chidiebere Nwakali (Aberdeen FC, Scotland)

Usman Mohammed (Sarpsborg, Norway)

Dayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars)

Emem Eduok (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)

Sadiq Umar (NAC Breda, Netherlands)

Tosin Omoyele (Plateau United)

Kadiri Samad (Lobi Stars)

Ibrahim Alhassan (Kano Pillars)