Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles head coach, has released a 23-player final squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers later this month.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) announced the list in
a statement on Tuesday.
The final list came out one week after a 39-player
provisional list was released for the forthcoming clash.
The most prominent name missing in the trimmed list is Ahmed
Musa, the Super Eagles captain.
The inclusion of Musa in the initial squad was surprising
since his last call up to the team was for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in
Cote d’Ivoire where he did not make an appearance throughout the tournament.
The new list contains many familiar faces with Victor
Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Moses Simon leading the attack
options.
Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Raphael Onyedika are among
the midfielders, while the defence has William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina,
and others.
After a long time out, Nathan Tella and Joe Aribo return to
the Eagles fold.
Three players — Tolu Arokodare, Igoh Ogbu, Papa Mustapha —
were handed their first-ever Super Eagles call ups.
The Super Eagles will take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21
before playing Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo four days later.
The matches will be Chelle’s first set of games with the
Eagles since he was named the team’s head coach in January.
Nigeria remain winless after four games in the World Cup
qualifier. The Eagles have lost one and drawn three and are fifth in Group C of
the qualifier.
The team must ensure impeccable performances in their
remaining matches to revive their chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
in the US.
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)