Shina Okeleji BBC Sport, Lagos

Akide plays for the W-league side Hampton Roads Piranhas

Former African Footballer of the Year Mercy Akide has been recalled to Nigeria's women national team after a two-year absence.

The 31-year-old has not been invited since the Athens 2004 Olympic games.

But Coach Effiom Ntiero included the United States-based player in his 30-strong squad for the fifth African Women championship preparations.

Akide's recent good showing for W-league side Hampton Roads Piranhas, where she scored 13-goals, seems to have impressed the coach.

"Mercy has been in splendid form and it is important to invite her, to prove she is still a force to reckon with in the game," Ntiero told BBC Sport.

"I want to give equal opportunities to other players abroad because we must not be complacent by discarding experience.

"Other African countries are not coming here to count our stars, so we want to present the strongest squad we possibly can.

Ntiero also handed another surprise recalls to Akide's team-mate Florence Omagbemi and midfielder Maureen Madu, who plays for Swedish side QBIK.

In an effort to win their fifth successive African championship, Ntiero also included foreign-based players like current African Footballer of the Year Perpetual Nkwocha, who plays in China.

Others are Semola Akinlose, Cynthia Uwak, Ayisat Yusuf, Faith Ikidi and Rita Chikwelu.