Watford striker Odion Ighalo is agonisingly close to achieving his dream of playing for the senior Nigeria team after he received his first call-up while several Hornets could go head-to-head during the international break.

It has been a good week for Ighalo after he was given the all-clear to return from a hamstring injury in addition to being named in the Super Eagles squad.

After Saturday’s home fixture with Ipswich Town, there is a two-week international break.

Nigeria were set to host Bolivia on Thursday, March 26, but that match has been cancelled after Bolivia pulled-out of the friendly over security fears.

That means Ighalo’s first opportunity to represent his country will now come on Sunday, March 29 when Nigeria travel to South Africa for a friendly.

The 25-year-old striker, who was an unused substitute against Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night, has represented Nigeria at Under-20 level but his 14 goals in ten Championship games have been recognised by the Super Eagles’ caretaker manager and ex-Everton striker Daniel Amokachi.

Via his Twitter page, Ighalo wrote on Tuesday: “Happy to be back in the squad for tonight’s game and my call up to the Nigeria national team. God is faithful.”

While Ighalo will head to Africa, Hornets duo Juan Carlos Paredes and Miguel Layun will travel to the USA as Ecuador take on Mexico in Los Angeles, California.

Their friendly will be played on Saturday, March 28 and when the two sides met in 2014, Layun’s Mexico side secured a 3-1 win over Paredes’ Ecuador.

Ikechi Anya and Craig Cathcart could come face-to-face after they were called up by their respective countries.

Anya has been included in the Scotland party to face Northern Ireland in a friendly at Hampden Park on Wednesday, March 25.

The Tartan Army then host Gibraltar in a 2016 European Championship qualifier on Sunday, March 29.

Following their game against the Scots, Cathcart’s Northern Ireland take on Finland in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday, March 29.

Daniel Tozser has been selected for Hungary’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Greece on March 29, while on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Adlene Guedioura has been named in the Algerian squad for their friendly against Oman on the same day.

Matej Vydra is likely to take on Jonathan Bond when the Czech Republic Under-21s face England Under-21s in a friendly on Friday, March 27.

The Czech side then take on Portugal four days later while the Three Lions host Germany at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on Monday, March 30.

Defender Tommie Hoban is likely to captain the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side when they play Andorra in an Under-21 European Championship qualifier on Thursday, March 26.