Super Eagles Coach Chelle Names Provisional Squad For Crucial World Cup Qualifiers
New Head coach of the Super Eagles, Éric Sékou Chelle, has unveiled a provisional squad of 39 players ahead of Nigeria’s vital 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The squad includes goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses.
Also making the list are goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar.
For the first time, defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha, along with forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams, have been included. Meanwhile, there could be recalls for home-based goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defender Jordan Torunarigha, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella, should they make the final squad of 23.
Nigeria currently sits fifth in Group C behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic and Lesotho. The Super Eagles will face group leaders Amavubi of Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21 March, before hosting Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on 25 March.
Full Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
Defenders:
William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International, Nigeria)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton, England); Anthony Dennis (Göztepe, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria)
Forwards:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain).
The final squad of 23 players will be announced in the coming days as Nigeria aims to boost its chances of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.