The Head Coach of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Éric Sékou Chelle has made public a 39-man provisional squad.
Some of the important players in the list are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, Adeleye Adebayo, Maduka Okoye. Also on the list are defenders William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi. Midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Raphael Onyedika are included. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze leads the attack.
There are also some familiar faces who return, with goalkeeper Kayode Bankole and defender Jordan Torunarigha in the squad. Other players receiving first call-ups are defenders Igoh Ogbu, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche, Mustapha Papa Daniel and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams.
Nigeria, who lie fifth in Group C, will face table toppers Rwanda on Friday, March 21, in Kigali before their clash against Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25. The matches are key in the Super Eagles bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Super Eagles 39-Man Provisional Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers:
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
- Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus)
- Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)
- Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
Defenders:
- William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
- Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey)
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece)
- Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France)
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
- Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
- Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
- Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
- Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, 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 FC, Italy)
- Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany)
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
- Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England)
- Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey)
- Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)
- Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria)
Forwards:
- Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England)
- Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
- Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France)
- Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain)
- Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
- Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
- Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
- Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain)
- Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England)
- Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria)
- Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)
