Head coach Éric Sékou Chelle has named goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in a provisional list of 39 players for this month’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
There are also 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.
Defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams are named for the first time ever, while there could be returns for home-based goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defender Jordan Torunarigha, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella, if they eventually make the final list of 23.
Nigeria, fifth on the group C log behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic and Lesotho, square up to leaders Amavubi of Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
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Full List
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)
14 Comments
I like the inclusion of Igoh Ogbu in that Defense. I’ve been asking what else does he needs to do to get a call up? Now he’s got his chances in the sun. I’m also happy for Tolu Arokodare. He has been knocking on the door. Overall, very solid and competitive list.
MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT, IF TRULY THAT ERIC CHELLE WANT TO SUCCEED WITH SUPER EAGLE & QUALIFY NIGERIA FOR WORLD CUP. HE SHOULD JUST INVITE PLAYERS BASE ON QUALITY, POTENTIAL, FITNESS & PRESENT FORM, MERIT WITHOUT SENTIMENT
HE SHOULD NOT INVITE PLAYERS BASED ON USELESS EXPERIENCE/LEADERSHIP/CAPTAISHIP, MENTORSHIP, AGING, EGO, RECORD OR PAST FORM.
AND WITH ALL THIS YARDSTICKS, THE LIKE OF THIS PLAYERS: IHEANACHO, ONUACHU, AWONIYI, BONIFACE(Boni-yeye), BALOGUN, OMERUO, IZOHO, ARIBO DIDN’T DESERVED TO INVITED FOR CRUCIAL WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.
** ONUACHU HAS FAILED WOEFULLY IN SUPER EAGLE UNDER FOUR DIFFERENT COACHES (ROHR, Equavoen, Paseiro, Finidi) because he cannot adjust to playing style of super eagle.
** ARIBO IS A SLUGGISH PLAYER, HE CANNOT PLAY AFRICA FOOTBALL.
** BONIFACE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH CHANCES TO PROVE HIMSELF AS AN EITHER ALTERNATIVE OR MAIN STRIKER ON THE FIELD OF PLAY, BUT HE FAILED TO EVEN SHOW HIS STUFF (i.e quality) TALKLESS OF SCORING GOALS.
** IHEANACHO, MUSA AWONIYI, BALOGUN, OMERUO ARE JUST HANGING AROUND JUST IN THE NAME OF EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP, CAPTAINSHIP, MENTORSHIP.
### ERIC CHELLE SHOULD GIVE OTHER WELL MATURED, EXPOSED, QUALITY WITH GREAT POTENTIAL PLAYERS CHANCES TO SHOWCASE THEIR STUFF.
@@@@ OLISA-NDAH, AKPOM, DESSERS, AKPOGUMA, GIFT-ORBAN, EJUKE, NWAKALI, ALHASSAN, AKODARE, TELLA, ARE ALL WELL MATURED, EXPOSED, QUALITY WITH GREAT POTENTIAL PLAYERS.
### NIGERIA SHOULD STOP DECEIVING THEMSELVES WITH WORD EXPERIENCE, MENTORSHIP, CAPTAINSHIP ! ! ! ! ! ! !
ERIC CHELLE SHOULD NOT BE DECEIVED & CARRIED AWAY ON THINKING OF MAKING ONUACHU TO PARTNER WITH OSIMHEN AT THE ATTACKING POSITION. PAUL ONUACHU IS A CLUB-SIDE GOALSCORER DECIEVER. HIS STYLE OF PLAY NEVER MARCH WITH SUPER EAGLE. HE HAS NEVER PLAY WELL IN ANY OF THE MATCHES HE PLAYED FOR THE SUPER EAGLE.
** UNDER GERNOT ROHR, EQUAVOEN , PASEIRO, FINIDI, HE ALL FLOPPED.
CHUKWUEZE, MUSA, LOOKMAN, SIMON PLAYED WELL WITH OSIMHEN AT THE FRONT, AND THEY ALL SUCCEEDED.
#### OSIMHEN NEEDS AGGRESSIVE & SPEEDY PLAYER TO PARTNER WITH.
** THE POTENTIAL & QUALITY OF PLAY OF GIFT-ORBAN , CRIEL DESSERS, MOFFI, AKPOM, AKOR, AKODARE WILL SUIT OSIMHEN PARTNERSHIP. AND ALSO FAR FAR BETTER THAN PAUL ONUACHU, IHEANACHO, SADIQ UMAR, AWONIYI.
ERIC CHELLE BE WATCHFUL ooooooooo ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I wonder why Balogun is not in this list, till today ekong and Balogun are the best central defender Nigeria has, also I don’t know why akpom and Olawale who is doing great job at Rizespor were not included. Frank onyeka is the best defensive midfielder Nigeria has, that guy is a beast in that position but always benched because Nigeria prefer names than quality, that guy single handedly carried Nigeria in the last nation cup till final
Chuba Akpom and Gift Orban should have been invited to replace Iheanacho and another player.
SENIOR/EXPERIENCE PLAYERS THAT WILL SERVE AS BROTHERHOOD/MENTORSHIP TO PLAYERS IN THE TEAM.
WE WHAT WE NEED IS AN OLD SENIOR EXPERIENCE PLAYERS THAT CAN BE FIT TO PLAY 90 MINUTES ACTION ON THE FIELD OF PLAY, SHOWS CHARACTER & PROVE A POINT.
*** WE ALWAYS LIKE TO BE DECEIVING OURSELVES IN THIS COUNTRY WITH THE ISSUE OF OLD EXPERIENCE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM.
FOR INSTANCE : I am an experience engineer, but iam not fit, then tell me “what am I going to do on the field?”
IN AFCON 2019, MIKEL, BALOGUN WERE SELECTED AMONG THE PLAYERS TO THE COMPETITION AS AN EXPERIENCE OLD/SENIOR PLAYERS, BUT THEY WERE NOT FIT. AT THE END, BOTH OF THEM WERE FLOPPED WHILE GIVING CHANCE TO PLAY AGAINST MADAGASCAR BY LOSING 3-0.
OR IS IT AN EXPERIENCE OF MIKEL, BALOGUN THAT MAKE SUPER EAGLE REACH THE FINAL OF AFCON 2023.
#### IHEANACHO, SADIQ, AWONIYI, BALOGUN, OMERUO, ONUACHU SHOULD BE DROP OUT OF THE TEAM & GIVE CHANCES FOR BETTER PERFORMING PLAYERS AT THE MOMENT LIKE: AKPOM, DESSERS, ORBAN, OSHO, AKPOGUMA, OLISA-NDAH, EJUKE.
** THERE MUST BE A REWARD OF INVITATION FOR PLAYERS THAT ARE PERFORMING CREDIBLY WELL AT THE MOMENT.
WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT FIT, LET STOP DECEIVING OURSELVES THAT “EXPERIENCE COUNT” This is an EUROPEAN/AMERICAN language. It doesn’t work in Africa (most especially in Nigeria).
IF EXPERIENCE COUNT, DOES TROOST-EKONG, OSIMHEN BE PLAY AHEAD OF OMERUO, ONUACHU.
OR IZOHO, OMERUO, ONUACHU ARE THEY NOT A SENIOR PLAYERS AHEAD OF NWABALI, TROOST-EKONG, OSIMHEN. WHY THEIR EXPERIENCE DIDN’T COUNT ON THE FIELD OF PLAY AHEAD OF YOUNGER PLAYERS.
***** OR WHEN OBJ, PMB became President two or three times again, did their experience count for the nation???? INSTEAD, it is another EIGHT YEARS OF HECTIC SUFFERNESS.
THEY LOOTED , DISTABLISED NIGERIA ECONOMY & TURNED NIGERIA UPSIDE DOWN, LEADING TO EVERLASTING SUFFERNESS TILL WHAT NIGERIA ARE EXPERIENCING NOW (( to the extent that EMILOKAN TURN TO EBI LOKAN))
EVEN IN LAST WORLD CUP IN 2023 IN QATAR, WHEN BENZEMA & AGUERO WERE NOT FIT, THEY WERE DROPPED OUT OF THE TEAM
FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. AND BOTH COUNTRIES DID CREDIBLY WELL WITHOUT THEM. BUT IF IT IS NIGERIA, THEY WILL TAKE THEM ALONG TO THE COMPETITION AND SAY BENZEMA WILL BE GIVING ADVICE TO MBAPPE, OR AGUERO WILL BE MENTORING LAUTARO MARTINEZ, MARTINELLI.
If we are looking for veteran I would prefer Leon Balogun to Aboki Musa because we need more options in an injury ravaged defence since Musa will not dream of playing a minute in any of the matches than talking from the bench and speaking French with our new coach.
Where is China Alpom? The list is incomplete;
But @TALK YOUR OWN. Why is your write up the same as JULIET AND DON’T MIND THEM????? Damn!!!!! This site is gone. Why are you replying yourself?? You guys are ridiculous.
Chelle should stop allowing Eguavoen influence his list. Eguavoen is lurking around to take the team to AFCON.
It is becoming obvious that certain players have the backing of corrupt nff and their evil agents..
How underperforming and regular failures both for clubs and country get smuggled into the team all the time is ridiculous.
A perfect example. is Overhyped iheanacho, He has not scored or assisted a goal in top division matches the past two years but get condidered every now and then.
Why are Balogun and Akpoguma not on the list ?
There should be no room for bench players and underperformers when there are better players.
I reserve further comments till the final 23 is released. It is easy to get the number of minutes and performance ratings of players online.
Hmmmm. My country’s people, are we not our problems?
We can see clearly on this list kę.
Many players have no business business on this list but made it because they have godfathers.
Akpom, Balogun, and Orban, to say the least, should be included.
Ohooo, you heard well, kę. I won’t be deceived by the new and unused players on the list because they might not make the final list.
If we have been following NFF/Eguavoen, this is the political game they have been using and in the end, they throw out the best and inform players and replace them with unfit and unmerited ones.
Until we do things accordingly otherwise, don’t expect a new Nigeria or any miracle.
That said, I thank God on behalf of Cyriel Dessers Kolawole. He deserves to be among the regular players for the Super Eagles, but due to corruption around the NFF and Eguavoen, they overlooked him.
This is a lesson for you and I in life. Never give up no matter what. I hope Eguavoen will allow Dessers to make the final list.
For me, our main strikers now are
*Oshimen
*Dessers
*Arokodare
However, Eric Chelle should be bold enough to select the best players, and he should not allow Eguavoen and NFF to push him; otherwise, Chelle will tarnish his image sooner or later.
Eguavoen/NFF are not for us. They are fighting for their pockets. I believe they will leave their offices one. The time will come when there will be no room for corruption in Nigeria. It may not be now but it will happen.
Eguavoen/NFF are wicking Eric Chelle already. Eric Chelle should resign if that is the only solution. A word is enough for the wise!
For now, I don’t want to talk too much until I see the final list. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!!
Am waiting to see the final list
NFF don put Eric Chelle for “work”. Some names are missing from the list,and some names are not supposed to be there. All Eric’s talk on selecting players on merit is just a facade. I’m waiting to see the final 23 man list.
before nko when you see the football house given an african man of mali extraction taken care of the national team we should expect that kind of laxity they employed the malian so that they can be able to dictate his selection for him and to be honest those official including our ex international is killing our if i happens to be in charge of the football the ex international includig ikpeba has nothing to do with our football iwill personal banish exterminate them from anything nigeria football and i will even probe them if possible let them pay dearly causing a lot damage to our football