STEPHEN Keshi, who was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last month, has returned to his job as Super Eagles coach.
According to the NFF, the process for Keshi's return as head coach of the Super Eagles was completed Friday following the technical committee's acceptance of the plea for his reconsideration made by Coach Shaibu Amodu on Monday.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Thursday ordered the NFF to reinstate Keshi, who was sacked by the new board of the federation as part of the efforts to arrest the country's steady slide in football.
Nigeria is third in Group A of the qualifying series for the Morocco 2015 Africa Nations Cup after losing to Congo in Calabar and Sudan in Khartoum, while drawing with South Africa and beating Sudan in the reverse fixture Abuja.
Amodu was announced to take over the Eagles on October 16, hours after the team's 3-1 win over Sudan in Abuja only took it to four points in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Speaking on Keshi's recall yesterday, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, said, "I have never had anything against Keshi as a person. Amodu is someone we all respect and since that is his opinion and the Technical Committee has approved, so be it.
"I have always said that the work of the committees will not be interfered with. We will give the committees the independence to do their work for optimum results. I am also assuring Nigerians at home and abroad that the NFF will give Keshi all the necessary support to successfully prosecute the two very crucial final matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series."
Keshi began his second stint on the job yesterday with the invitation of 25 players, who will prosecute Nigeria's two remaining AFCON qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.
Uche, who Keshi inexplicably left out of the Brazil 2014 World Cup squad, is in the team for the first time in nearly two years, and there is also a first senior team opportunity for Nasarawa United midfielder, Tony Edjomari.
According to the list released by the NFF yesterday, home -based defender Solomon Kwambe also returns, and Aaron Samuel (who got one of the goals against Sudan), Hope Akpan, Sunday Emmanuel and home boy, Emem Eduok, have further chances after being called for the matches against the Falcons of Sudan.
Skipper and goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Ogenyi Onazi and Mikel Obi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Babatunde Michael are also invited.
All the players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Wuse, Abuja on Sunday, November 9.
The full list of players include:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria).
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); and Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor FC, Turkey); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); and Tony Edjomari (Nasarawa United, Nigeria).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villareal FC, Spain); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China); Sunday Emmanuel (SV Scholz Grodig, Austria); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine); and Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC, Nigeria).