Head Coach Jose Santos Peseiro has invited 23 players for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, www.aclsports.com reports.
The list, which was made available by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through the communications department, has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders, and eight forwards for the games coming up next week.
Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielder Raphael Onyedika and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi have been called up.
Meanwhile, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, and Wilfred Ndidi all miss out due to injury. Captains Ahmed Musa and William Troost Ekong were also left out of the squad by Peseiro.
Defender Jamilu Collins makes a return after a long lay-off due to injury, and there is a first-ever call-up for Bayer Leverkusen of Germany forward Nathan Tella.
Peseiro and his Super Eagles wards kick-start their race to the Mundial in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada in 2026 with a clash with the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Thursday, November 16, 2023 before flying to Rwanda for a clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare on Monday, 20th November.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio, Italy)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales)
Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
