Orban, Makanjuola headline Nigeria's foreign-based roster for U23 AFCONQ v Guinea

The Nigeria Football Federation have invited sixteen foreign-based professionals to beef up the Olympic Eagles squad ahead of the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea. 

The roster is headlined by KAA Gent's new scoring sensation Gift Orban and former Leganes striker Success Makanjuola, who was a member of the Flying Eagles squad to the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup.

As happened against the Tanzanians in Dar es Salaam and Ibadan in October last year, Makanjuola is expected to lead the charge against the Guineans in Abuja on Wednesday, perhaps alongside Orban, with Babatunde and Ogunniyi (nicknamed Omo-Jesu) pulling the strings from the middle.

The winner on aggregate will qualify for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco later this year, at which Africa's flag bearers at next year's Men's Olympic Football Tournament will emerge.

Guinea's delegation for the encounter in Abuja is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday evening.

Invited foreign-based players for U23 AFCONQ

Success Makanjuola (FK Liepaja, Latvia); Bello Babatunde (Future FC, Egypt); Isaiah Ejeh (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Abiodun Ogunniyi (FK Auda, Latvia); Monsuru Opeyemi Abdullahi (FC Vizela, Portugal); Omole Akinyinka Olaoluwakitan (Athletic Newham, UK); Owen Tega Udoh (UD San Sebastian Reyes, Spain); Azeez Temitope Yusuf (Mjallby Alf, Sweden); Charles Uba (Lillestrom FC, Norway); Simon Omon (Clube Operation Desportivo, Portugal); Ihekuna Maximillian Ugochukwu (FC Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni, Moldova); Chukwudi Goodluck Igbokwe (KAA Gent, Belgium); Abass Saidi (Zagalata FC, Azerbaijan); Ibrahim Buhari (IF Elfsborg, Sweden); Gift Emmanuel Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Samuel Amadi (Eramica Cleopatra, Egypt) 

Ferdinand Mbum