Captain Ahmed Musa, Premier League strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi, as well as inform Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu, have been omitted by Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro for next Thursday's friendly against World Cup-bound Portugal at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
Osimhen and Onuachu are the league's top scorers in Italy and Belgium, respectively.
Peseiro called up Onuachu, Tyronne Ebuehi, Oghenekaro Etebo, and Joe Aribo, as well as Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi and Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Uncapped Bruno Onyemaechi, who is based in Portugal, has also been invited by the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, Jose Peseiro has stated that the Eagles can only be great if they play top teams like Portugal.
"However, it is also a fantastic opportunity: if you want to build a national team with lofty goals, you must compete against top teams."
"The way it has to be is that if you just want to win, you play against small teams."
"However, if I want to improve my team, I will go through defeats in order to improve us in the future."
"How do you motivate players when they are up against small teams?" Only rankings points are accepted.
"But it's different when you're up against a top team like Portugal."
Under Peseiro, the Eagles have lost friendlies to Mexico, Ecuador, and Algeria.
The entire team: Maduka Okoye (Watford FC, England), Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus), and Adebayo Adeleye are the goalkeepers (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)
William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi Samuel (Rivers United); (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton Football Club, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton Football Club, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford Football Club, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Brentford Football Club, England) (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece)
Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Terem Moffi (Lorient FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Genk FC, Belgium); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Atalanta FC, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Atalanta FC, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Atalanta FC (Nottingham Forest, England).
