Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has retained eight home based players in camp ahead of the June 13 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi

The players retained are:Goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.Defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Chima Akas. Midfielder Bright Onyedikachi, Strikers Gbolahan Salami and Okechukwu Gabriel.

Making the announcement on Tuesday,Keshi said the retained players would be joined by the fifteen invited foreign based professionals for the final phase of preparations for Nigeria’s opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna next weekend.

He urged the players who failed to make the cut not to be discouraged but to work harder to keep themselves among the pool of players that could be called up for future national team assignments.