Tan Mbonu is seen here scoring a try against Woodford. He's a lethal finisher and has scored 28 league tries in the last two season.

Tan Mbonu, Enfield Ignatians' top try scorer, has celebrated another milestone in his burgeoning playing career by being selected for the Nigerian squad which will play three games in a week in pool 1C of the Africa Nations Cup later in the summer.

The tournament, hosted by the Ivory Coast, will see Nigeria, also known as the Black Stallions, pitted against Morocco, Mauritius and Zambia, and is very much a stepping-stone towards qualification for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The player said: "It's very exciting and I can't wait to get involved. The selectors were impressed with what they saw in the two trial matches, and in the four training sessions which I attended. I've been doing some research and I gather that Morocco have quite a few French-based players."

The Nigerian squad is much changed from the one which contested the same tournament in Botswana last year as there are 15 new caps in the 24 man squad.

Nigeria's Team manager Mark Dean said: "This year we have been able to select players who are playing their club rugby at good levels in France, the UK, the USA and Nigeria. Obviously, the larger the pool of talent we have to select from, then the faster the elite level of rugby in Nigeria will develop, and provide that aspirational link to develop the grass roots domestic game"

It's been quite a year for Mbonu for, in addition to his prowess at London Two North-East level, he has also had a taste of the county game after being thrown into the fray late in the second-half for Middlesex in the clash with Sussex at Staines.

Nigerian touring Squad

Forwards: James Doherty (Richmond), Adedoyin Layade (Marseille), Francis Ugwu (Old Mid-Whitgiftian), Usani Ewah (Dallas), Ayo Salau (Loughborough), Abdul Abdulsamad (Barewa RFC), Moshope Osinibi (Old Alleynian),Moyo Osinibi (Old Alleynian), Chukwuma Osazuwa (Heriots), Ebenezer Ikediashi (Beckenham), Emmanuel Akinluyi (Cambridge), John Kura (Racing RFC), Adam Aigbokhae (Caldy)

Backs: David Akinluyi (Esher), Temi Okenla (Old Mid-Whitgiftian), Toto Odulaja (Loughborough), Martin Olima (Blackheath), Gbade Adewola (Cardiff University), Ade Adebisi (London Skolars), Nuhu Ibrahim (Kano RFC), Tan Mbonu (Enfield Ignatians), Tiwa Obisesan (Canterbury)