Who are the 8 players returning to the Super Eagles ahead of Ghana & Mali tests?

The Super Eagles have recalled eight players for this month's highly anticipated friendly matches against Ghana and Mali in Morocco.

Headlining the list of returners is Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the Africa Cup of Nations in January through injury as Nigeria finished runners-up to Ivory Coast, Pulse Sports Nigeria reports.

Leicester’s midfield enforcer Ndidi is joined by the in-form Nathan Tella of Bayer Leverkusen, Empoli's Tyronne Ebuehi, Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers and Jamilu Collins, who is back involved after a spell in the international wilderness.

Turkey-based Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Taiwo Awoniyi and Umar Sadiq of Real Sociedad complete the crop of returning faces as the Nigerian side begins preparations for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

Of those brought back in, it is Dessers who arrives with the most impressive form, having plundered 12 goals and provided two assists in an outstanding campaign so far for Scottish giants Rangers.

Dele-Bashiru has contributed four goals and two assists from midfield, while Tella and Awoniyi have netted four and six times respectively for their clubs this term.

The eight players come back into the fray having missed out on the AFCON squad, with Eagles selectors retaining the core of the team that reached the final in Cote d'Ivoire before that agonising 2-1 defeat.

This batch of friendlies gives Nigeria a chance to integrate the returning stars ahead of a vital stint of 2025 AFCON qualifiers beginning in June.

Nigeria will be desperate to gain revenge over Ghana, who eliminated them in a dramatic World Cup playoff last March to book their spot in Qatar.

The two West African rivals clash at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on March 22nd in what is sure to be a feisty affair following that heartbreaking World Cup disappointment for the Super Eagles.

Four days later, they take on another familiar AFCON foe in Mali, with the two nations sharing the 'Eagles' nickname and having met in the 2013 semi-finals.

With a clutch of players returning and places up for grabs, the upcoming double header represents a great opportunity to for the players to impress and stake a claim for the road towards AFCON 2025.