Victor Moses included in Nigeria squad for friendlies
Last updated on .From the section Football
Nigeria have included Victor Moses in their squad for back-to-back friendlies against Botswana and Zambia later this month.
It is a first call-up for the Wigan striker since he was cleared this week to swap national allegiances and play for the Super Eagles.
The 20-year-old was first called up for Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations clash with Ethiopia in March but he was ruled out of the game as he was yet to receive official clearance from Fifa to play for his country of birth.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced a 28-man squad, chosen by its technical committee, on Thursday in what will be new coach Stephen Keshi's first game in charge.
Moses was born in Kaduna, north-central Nigeria but was only cleared by Fifa this week after playing for England at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.
Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi was also cleared by football's world governing body but misses out on a debut due to injury.
Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu has also been handed a recall for the first time since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Etuhu had a spat with former coach Samson Siasia after he turned down a late call-up for the cancelled friendly against Ghana in August.
Another man making a return is goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who had a highly-publicised dispute with Siasia and was left out of the squad.
But some regular names miss out - including Israel-based goalkeeper Dele Ayenugba and Peter Utaka of Danish club Odense.
There is a first call-up for striker Edward Ofere, who plays for Lecce in Italy.
The NFF say the friendlies were set up to keep the national team busy.
"It's very important to get the squad together for the matches hence the technical committee called up 28 players for the international friendlies," NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.
"They are two countries participating at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, so they fit perfectly for us to get the Super Eagles busy.
"The new coach only needs to focus on getting started and we wish him all the best."
The Super Eagles will take on the Zebras of Botswana in Benin City on 12 November then face Zambia's Chipolopolo in Kaduna three days later.
