Two years after his international retirement, Odion Ighalo is back in the Nigeria training camp ahead of the final two games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, to the delight of Victor Osimhen.
Napoli's Osimhen took over the mantle of leading the team's forward line in the absence of the former Watford and Manchester United striker, but has welcomed the return as a positive.
"It's good for the team. The coach and the federation know what is the best for the team. We welcome him with open arms," Osimhen told ESPN.
"He is like a big brother to me and I like him so much. I learn a lot of things from him and it is important to have him in the team.
"We all have a common goal to qualify for the World Cup and do well at the AFCON. Whatever is good for the team, I think the coach and the federation will bring it into play."
But head coach Gernot Rohr says Ighalo would still have to earn his place in the starting lineup, despite being on a mission since 2019 to change the mind of the 32-year-old.
"We are happy to have Ighalo back with us, of course," Rohr told ESPN ahead of fixtures against Liberia and Cape Verde.
"Now he has to train with us and we [have a look at] him. Then we see how the complicity works. Then we make a decision based on each individual player's fitness level."
Still, the coach says Ighalo's presence is a big boost for the team on and off the pitch: "He has a lot of experience, and like I say before, he is a special player and he will help our team with his experience."
Ighalo finished as top scorer in the qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after scoring seven goals. He followed that up by also emerging the tournament top scorer in Egypt with five goals.
Both accomplishments helped erase the pain of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where the striker's performance came in for heavy criticism from fans as Nigeria exited the competition in the first round.
Not only was the forward harshly pilloried, he was only talked out of a post-World Cup retirement by Rohr.
Ighalo arrived the Nigeria lodgings in the Moroccan city of Tangier on Thursday, and was beaming on arrival: "I'm happy to be back, it has been long away from the team, almost two years plus and it is good to see some of the guys."
The forward brings a proven and lethal goalscoring to the Super Eagles side, which has struggled for goals despite an embarrassment of riches in the striker department.
Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, and Taiwo Awoniyi have scored a combined total of 33 goals in 48 club competitions this season, but have combined for just two [both from Osimhen] in seven games.
This saw the Super Eagles slump to a shock first ever defeat at home against Central Africa Republic, on matchday three of the qualifiers.
Among the top two teams of each of the qualification groups, Nigeria's measly tally of six goals not only ranks at the bottom of the pile, but is well behind Algeria's 19, Senegal's 13 and Mali's 10, despite the plethora of attacking talent at Rohr's disposal.
Much of the problem has stemmed from a disconnected midfield, which has failed to create chances for the forwards, all of which has led to questions about the Super Eagles midfield, scrutiny that the German acknowledges.
"Yes, we know and we are working on it," he said. "We did not have (Wilfred) Ndidi and (Oghenekaro) Etebo for the last games but now we are happy to have Ndidi back."
Whether the return of Ndidi will be enough to lead to better connection between midfield and attack remains to be seen, but Rohr is clearly banking on Ighalo's ability to squeeze goals out of nothing.
The Super Eagles face the already eliminated Liberia on Saturday before meeting group rivals Cape Verde at home on Tuesday in Lagos. Four points from both games would be enough to see Nigeria win the group and advance to the final round of qualifying.