Nigeria s coach Gernot Rohr announced late on Monday a 23-man squad for the home friendly match against Egypt on 26 March amid both teams preparations for the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will be facing Seychelles with the same squad on 22 March as part of the African Cup qualifiers, while Egypt will be hosted by Niger on the same day in the final round of the qualifiers.
Big names like skipper and Middlesbrough s John Obi Mikel, Leicester City s Kelechi Iheanacho, Watford s Isaac Success, and Fenerbahce s Victor Moses were the prominent absentees from the Nigerian squad for the Egypt test.
On the other side, Egypt s coach Javier Aguirre has named 10 new faces and has dropped Liverpool s winger Mohamed Salah and West Bromwich Albion s centre-back Ahmed Hegazi from the 25-man squad announced a week ago for the Niger and Nigeria matches.
Egypt was granted the tournament s hosting rights last month after Cameroon was stripped of the role in December.
The Pharaohs, who have already booked a place in Africa s flagship tournament with one match to spare in their qualifying group, are second with 12 points, on level with leaders Tunisia, who enjoy a greater goal difference.
The Super Eagles, Nigeria, also secured a place at the finals in Egypt as they are currently topping Group E with 10 points.
The 2019 AFCON is scheduled to take place from 21 June to 13 July, having been moved from January/February to avoid club-versus-country clashes.
Egypt won the last of their record seven titles in 2010.
Nigeria s full squad for Seychelles and Egypt matches:
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Udinese, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes, Spain); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino, Italy); Chidozie Awaziem (Rizespor, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor, Turkey); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn, Germany); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba).
Midfielders: John Ogu (Hapoel Be er Sheva, Israel); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Moses Simon (Levante, Spain); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England); Victor Osimhen (Charleroi SC, Belgium); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray, Turkey); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux, France).
