Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has announced his initial provisional squad as he commences preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, according to Reelradio.com.ng.
Nigeria is set to face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, followed by a home match against Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later. These two matches are pivotal for the Super Eagles as they aim to rejuvenate their qualification efforts.
Chelle, who was appointed in January as the first non-Nigerian African to lead the Super Eagles, has retained much of the squad that secured a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The provisional squad consists of 39 players, including five goalkeepers, ten defenders, ten midfielders, and 14 forwards.
Notably absent is goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, while Stanley Nwabali from Chippa United and Maduka Okoye from Udinese are prominent figures in the goalkeeping department.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, who received the Player of the Tournament accolade at AFCON, anchors the defense alongside Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), and Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos).
In the midfield, Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) makes a return, joining Alex Iwobi (Fulham) and Frank Onyeka (Augsburg).
The attacking lineup is led by Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s second all-time leading goalscorer currently on loan at Galatasaray, with Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, also included.
The expanded squad features several new additions.
Defender Igoh Ogbu from Slavia Prague, Enugu Rangers’ Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, CHAN Eagles standout Papa Daniel Mustapha, Turkey-based Anthony Dennis, and new Sevilla recruit Akor Adams are among those selected by Chelle.
Christantus Uche from Getafe and Tolu Arokodare from Genk receive their first call-ups, while captain Ahmed Musa, Nathan Tella, Paul Onuachu, Jordan Torunarigha, and Cyriel Dessers return to the national team.
In total, the squad includes four players from the NPFL, two former NPFL players still active on the continent, and 33 others based in Europe and Asia.
Goalkeepers
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa),
- Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy),
- Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania),
- Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Neon Paralimni, Cyprus),
- Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
Defenders
- William Ekong (Al Khalood, Saudi Arabia),
- Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey),
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece),
- Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France),
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England),
- Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England),
- Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal),
- Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic),
- Jordan Torunarigha (Gent, Belgium),
- Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)
Midfielders
- Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria),
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England),
- Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium),
- Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England, USA),
- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy),
- Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany),
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Joseph
- Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton, England),
- Anthony Dennis (Goztepe, Turkey),
- Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain)
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 (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland),
- Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium),
- Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain),
- Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England),
- Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria),
- Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain)
