Nigeria Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named his final squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, www.aclsports.com reports.
The initial peovisional list of 39 was pruned down to 23 with a number of players missing as the Malian looks to get the Super Eagles’ qualifying campaign back on track.
Leading the cast of players that made the cut is Victor Osimhen, who is yet to play a minute in the qualifiers, backed by reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Simon Moses in attack.
Defender William Troost-Ekong will continue to wear the armband after skipper Ahmed Musa was omitted from the final shortlist. Ekong is joined by Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina and new entrant Igoh Ogbu in a rather light backline.
In goal, Stanley Nwabali remains the undisputed number 1 of the Super Eagles, and he’s joined by another NPFL product Amas Obasogie, while Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole completes the list.
Other omissions include Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers – who has been scoring a lot in recent weeks. Semi Ajayi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (injury) and Maduka Okoye (who just returned from injury on Monday) also missed out on the final shortlist.
Meanwhile, in-form Alex Iwobi lead the cast of midfielders called up, and he is joined by Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge, Wilfred Ndidi, and Southampton’s Ayodele Aribo who makes a return to the squad after a spell out. While Niger Tornadoes’ Papa Daniel is in line for his maiden appearance as well as Belgium-based forward Tolu Arokodare.
Nigeria will confront group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES FOR RWANDA, ZIMBABWE GAMES
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
