Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was expected to be the long-term replacement for former Udinese forward Odion Ighalo at Nigeria, but now the duo will play together in the national team against Liberia.
Nigeria face Liberia in Group C of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers and the match will be played in Tunisia on Saturday night.
Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City scored twice in the 2-0 win in the first leg against Liberia and the Super Eagles are out to strengthen their position at the top of the group.
Osimhen, who joined Napoli ahead of 2020-21, has recently returned from injury and is ready to contribute for his national team.
The Partenopei striker has bagged 10 goals in 19 caps since his debut at 18 in June 2017, and two of the goals have arrived in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
Osimhen was seen as the long-term replacement for former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo, who retired from international football two years ago.
But Ighalo, who has turned 32 and currently plays for Al-Shabab Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, has been called up for the games against Liberia and Cape Verde this moth and Osimhen stressed he’s happy to see the former Udinese and Cesena striker in the squad.
“It’s good for the team and of course the coaches and the Federation know what’s best for the team,” Osimhen told the Super Eagles media team, according to Daily Post.
“We welcome him with open arms. Like I said before, he’s like a big brother to me and we love him a lot and I’ll learn a lot from him. I admire him so much. For me, it’s one of the most important things to have him in the squad.
“We all have a common goal to qualify for the World Cup and to do well in the AFCON, so I think the coach and the Federation will bring everything that’s good for the team into play.”