The home-based Super Eagles B team will begin preparations for the eighth African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Monday (Today), with players and officials expected to report to camp in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Head coach Eric Chelle has named an initial 35-man provisional squad as Nigeria gears up for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from August 2 to 30.
The competition, exclusively for players plying their trade in domestic leagues, had been postponed twice before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the new schedule.
Among the invited players are team captain Junior Nduka, Papa Mustapha Daniel, and forward Anas Yusuf. Enyimba goalkeeper Henry Ani also makes the list, alongside defenders Waliu Ojetoye, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Mohammed Kabiru, and Uzondu Harrison.
The midfield ranks are bolstered by the likes of Saviour Isaac, Haddi Haruna, and Adam Aminu, while forwards Sunday Megwo, Adamu Abubakar, Godwin Obaje, Atule Joseph, and Temitope Vincent are also included.
Goalkeepers Kayode Bankole and Ebenezer Harcourt, and defenders Sodiq Ismaila and Stephen Egbe complete the call-ups.
Nigeria, who finished as runners-up at the 2018 edition, are drawn in Group D of the expanded 19-team tournament. They will face defending champions Senegal, Sudan, and Congo in the group stage.
The Eagles will kick off their campaign with back-to-back games against Senegal and Sudan at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, before heading to the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam to face Congo.
Despite reaching the final in 2018 and placing third in 2014, Nigeria is still chasing its first-ever CHAN title.