Kelechi Nwakali has received a call-up for the upcoming u23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya next week, putting him in contention to make his debut for the side.

AllNigeriaSoccer report that Arsenal loanee Nwakali is among the professional players based abroad invited to join Imama Amapakabo’s squad. The midfielder will join the players at their get-together in Abuja before flying to Tunisia for the match against Libya u23s.

It’s going to be a quick turnaround for the player, given he has a game for Porto B on Sunday 17th March, just three days before the u23 fixture the following Wednesday. Then again, the 20-year-old hasn’t been in the last couple of Porto squads anyway.

Despite leading Nigeria’s u17s to World Cup glory and captaining the u20s in 2017, Nwakali is yet to play for the u23s. However, he did make his senior debut in an exhibition match between Nigeria and Atletico Madrid, scoring in a 3-2 defeat.

The youngster has been used all over the pitch for Porto B this season, from central midfield to centre-forward and on both of the wings. We’ll see where the Nigeria u23s decide to deploy him and hope for a positive performance from the Arsenal man.