REVEALED: Super Eagles provisional squad for World Cup qualifiers in March
Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle has announced a provisional Super Eagles list of 39 players for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The players include goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, Adeleye Adebayo, and Maduka Okoye, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina, Bruno Onyemaechi, Zaidu Sanusi, and others.
Midfielders in the provisional squad are Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Raphael Onyedika. The forwards include Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Simon Moses, and others.
Some players, such as goalkeepers Kayode Bankole and defenders Jordan Torunarigha, could make a return, while there are also first-time call-ups for defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche, and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams.
Nigeria, currently in fifth place in Group C, will face leaders Rwanda on Friday, March 21, in Kigali. They will then play Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later.
Here is the full provisional list of players:
Goalkeepers:
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
- Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)
- Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus)
- Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders:
- William 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)
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)
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)
- Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)
