Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr includes CHAN duo in squad

Defender Stephen Eze has been rewarded for his good performances at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a call-up to Nigeria's senior national side.

Defender Stephen Eze and forward Gabriel Okechukwu have been included in Nigeria's 28-man squad for the friendlies against Poland and Serbia later this month.

Eze, 23, who plays for Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv, and Akwa United's Okechukwu, 22, both starred as the Super Eagles B finished runners-up at the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.

They are among four new additions in coach Gernot Rohr's squad for the two World Cup warm-up games.

Nigeria will play Poland in Wroclaw on 23 March and Serbia four days later at Barnet, England.

Torino midfielder Joel Obi and Egypt's Al Ahly striker Junior Ajayi are also named as Rohr seeks to blend them with the core of his existing squad.

"The coach has named a strong squad for these important friendlies as the team prepare for the World Cup in Russia," Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.

"It's the first two of six crucial friendly matches planned for the team by the NFF."

Rohr has also included experienced Premier League quartet of Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, who scored twice in Nigeria's 4-2 friendly win against Argentina in November.

Nigeria's other confirmed friendly fixtures include DR Congo in Abuja on 28 May, England on 2 June in London and then the Czech Republic four days later in Austria.

The West Africans have chosen the eastern European oppositions Poland, Serbia and Czech Republic with the hope that they will provide ideal preparation for their opening Group D game against Croatia in Russia on 16 June.

Nigeria will then face Iceland on 22 June before finishing with Argentina four days later.

The Super Eagles will be making a sixth appearance at the World Cup tournament in Russia. They reached the round of 16 in 1994, 1998 and 2014 but exited the 2002 and 2010 tournaments in the group stages.

Nigeria 28-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino, Italy)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United)