BREAKING: Iheanacho in, Ighalo out of Super Eagles' 24-man list to face Sierra Leone

Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, has secured a return to the Super Eagles after missing out of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations - AFCONtournament due to loss of form.

His renewed form has seen him listed in Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr's 24-man list which includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards, ahead of this month's AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone.

Odion Ighalo who recently joined Manchester United was not included in the 24-man list having been tipped for a return to the Super Eagles following his retirement after last years AFCON.

Ahmed Musa, vice-captain William Ekong and veteran defender Kenneth Omeruo made the cut next month's double battle against the Leone Stars.

Leon Balogun, Olaoluwa Aina, Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen also made the cut.

Rohr decided to give first-time call up to two newbies; German-based defender Kingsley Ehizibue of FC Koln and Holland-based forward Cyril Dessers.

Nigeria host the Leone Stars at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Friday, March 27, before flying to Freetown to confront the Stars at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in the return four days later.

Victory in both games will virtually guarantee Nigeria a spot at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Cameroon early next year, ahead of their away clash to the Benin Republic in Porto Novo in June and a home tie against Lesotho early September.

24 EAGLES FOR LEONE STARS’ BATTLES

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Wigan Athletic, England); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kingsley Ehizibue (FC Koln, Germany)

Midfielders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Etebo Oghenekaro (Getafe FC, Spain); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia); Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Cyril Dessers (Heracles Almelo, The Netherlands); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France)

AFCON'S Group L standings so far.....

Group L
Nigeria 6 pts
Benin 3
Lesotho 1
Sierra Leone 1