Abuja –  Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi has named five foreign-based and 26 home-based players for the team’s May 23 international friendly, an official said on Tuesday in Abuja.

The team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya who disclosed this in a press statement, said the foreign-based players include Turkey-based Ekigho Ehiosun and Obiora Nwankwo of Italian clubside Parma.

The friendly with Peru is part of the team’s preparations for its three qualifiers scheduled for June.

One of the qualifiers is against Rwanda and is for the 2013 African Nations Cup, while the rest two are against Namibia and Malawi and are for the 2014 World Cup.

The team spokesman  listed the other foreign-based players as Gege Soriola of Free State Stars in the South African league, Nnamdi Oduamadi of Torino FC and Raheem Lawal of Spanish side Atletico Belaeres.

“Coach Keshi has made good his intention of using a sprinkle of foreign-based players for the May 23 friendly against Peru, by naming these five foreign-based stars for the friendly,’’ the team spokesman said.

He said Keshi, in calling up the players, expected them to be on top of their game at the moment.

“Apart from this, Keshi said he called them up because he needed the players in the relevant departments.

“He also warned that he would not hesitate to call on other players for other friendlies and qualifiers that are due to come up for the Eagles next month,’’ Alaiya said.

The Super Eagles Media Officer also disclosed that the list of 26 home-based players was made after due consultation between three parties.

“These are coach Keshi and his assistants on one hand as a group, and then both the Technical Department and the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) as the two other groups,’’ he said.

The list has three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven strikers.

“Home-based skipper Chigozie Agbim leads the group along with exciting winger Ejike Uzoenyi, as well as reliable defenders, Papa Idris, Azubuike Egwueke and Godfrey Oboabona,’’ Alaiya said.

Other players invited include goalkeepers Akpeyi Daniel and Okemute Odah, as well as defenders Oshaniwa Juwon, Nura Mohammed, Uzochukwu Ogonna, Shehu Maijema, Hamza Ikenna and Obihoha Marcel.

The midfielders and strikers included Henry Uche, Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben, Obinna Nwachukwu, Kalu Uche, Ossai Uche, Izu Azuka, Jabason Solomon, Barnabas Imenger, Hassan Hussein, Gbolahan Salami, Emma Nwachi and Pius Samson.

NAN reports that the invited players are expected to report to the national team’s training camp which will open on Sunday, May 6 in Abuja.

The team is scheduled to depart for Lima in Peru on May 19.(NAN)