Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named 23 players for his side’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Crocodiless of Lesotho, and Squirrels of Benin Republic, reports Completesports.com.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses all made the list.
Defender Semi Ajayi, who missed the last two matches in the September window due to injury, returns to the group, as do France-based Terem Moffi and former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays his club football in Russia.
Former junior international, Jerome Akor Adams has been handed his maiden invitation by Chelle.
The players are scheduled to converge in Polokwane on Monday, 6 October to begin preparation for the game with Lesotho.
Read Also:2026 WCQ: Super Eagles Given Renewed Hope After FIFA Ruling – Yusuf
The Super Eagles will do battle with Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10 October in a Matchday 9 encounter,
They will then fly from South Africa to Uyo to battle leaders Benin Republic in a fiery final Matchday game on Tuesday, 14th October.
Chelle’s 23-Man squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)
By Adeboye Amosu
31 Comments
All these attackers how many are you featuring in a game?It’s just a desperate decision,doesn’t guarantee you’ll score lots of goals.
Akinsanmiro and Zulta-Warengen Nadi should have included at least from the bench
1. Underperforming Bruno in the team again. Gragra defender that can’t defend and make accurate crosses ahead of Zaidu is a sham. It’s over a month since Bruno played a match for his team and stopped got picked ahead of a better Zaidu playing in higher league.
2. Chukwueze has played less than 15 mins in the premier league since joining Everton. He was terrible for AC Milan before gotten shipped out.
How did he get selected ahead of others playing regularly.
3. How on earth you, Akinsamiro and Durosinmi didn’t get invited for this match. The midfield lacks creativity and its high time the handlers looked for more mobile and technical midfielders.
@Larry this is not time for experiment. the players you mentioned above are good players but I don’t is right to bring in new players at this stag.
And still NO Attacking midfielders . Dead midfield.
Hmmm, Aina, Dele-Bashiru, and Onyedika out, obviously due to injuries. But Chrisantus Uche (not injured) also out.
But nice to have Terem back in the fold. Hopefully, we do a good job next week against Lesotho. Only if we had done the job at home to them and also held on in the match against Zimbabwe. This was a group all for the taking, but we just bungled the whole thing.
Who knows, there might be a miracle, courtesy Rwanda or even Zimbabwe. If not, at least the FIFA women world cup is the following year (2027) and we should be among the dark horses for the trophy.
Haa!
Two defensive midfielders, I no sure say this coach Sabi wetin e dey do. Issoookay o
This guy is not serious. He is confused. Lean midfield again. Going back to alhassan Yusuf again. No Chrisantus. No onyedika. And desser again? What’s he looking for in desser again An what’s the rationale behind the invitation of olusegun. Are we playing friendly in Russia?
Bunch of nonentities.
CS shame on you with your post.
Desser is no longer in Rangers.
Chukwueze is no longer on ac Milan.
CS first copied it from NFF release that was forwarded to them and first pasted on NFF website that has just been edited there.
Mr man
Chrysantus is not at the level required – it is people like you calling for him to be included but it became and is now even more so very obvious from further observing him in his new team (Palace) that he is not anywhere near good enough so rest with the Chrisantus abeg.
As for Dessers, so one bad game is enough to rubbish a player who shined in the immediately previous game he had for us abi? Or is your memory so short that you already forgot how we were all very impressed with him so much so that many of us even put him ahead of Osimhen in the last but one game?
I am not saying i agree with Chelle’s selection o, if indeed this selection was all down to his preference (which is very important to know) so that we know whether it is the horse or the cart leading the procession, but just based on this selection, I am far from impressed with the midfield particularly – which by the way is our biggest weak area in the team, so don’t confuse what I am saying with something else, but go and think again about your stance of Dessers and also go and watch your Chrisantus well before clamouring for him to be included –
Even the manager himself has decided to drop him after having him in camp and closely watching him in the last team camping, but you the keyboard manager are still trying to say that you are right and the manager is wrong.
Why not apply for the job so that we will at least know who to blame for the liability of Chrisantus in the team? Shior!
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy);
Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
.
.
.
Can y’all see the level of gross incompetence in the NFF technical, secretarial, and communications departments…..???
They can’t even get the names of the clubs of their players right.
Blabbermouths like Olajire (or whatever he calls himself) are only good at throwing the national team players under the bus in the press.
I saw this same mistake on another website and thought it was an error on the part of the website’s editors.
What a shame….!!!
And to the list itself…….was it Chelle who really compiled this list…..???
What are we doing with 5 no 9s….?
Why do we have only 1 RB and 3 LBs….?
3DMs and only 1 AM in a team that struggles to create chances…..??
Akor scores 1 tap in over the weekend after ages of dryness, and promptly he gets called up…..but Kelechi Iheanacho, who seems to be finding his rhythm back, is left out.
Once again, did Chelle draw up this list….??
This would simply mean Nigerians should once again brace up for a team where the entire right wing will be paralysed for the whole game.
Chelle seems hell bent on exhausting the patience I’ve had for him in the quickest possible time
I know we want to score goals but this list, in my humble opinion, is too heavy on the strikers’ department.
That said, I welcome the inclusion of Olakunle Olusegun due to his raw pace, hunger, and penetration.
The midfield doesn’t have enough defensive midfielders.
The defence is missing an additional credible centre back who can support in a back – 2 arrangement.
I wish the team all the best. I think we will end strongly regardless of world cup qualification.
This list shows Chelle has given up on the world cup race, 4 midfielders for 2 important qualification matches, odiewu!
Dr.Drey, Dr.Drey, how many times did I call you? I just joined your train by agreeing Chelle is a mad man.
Nigerian midfield was 4 man in 2018. It’s 4 man in 2025. We want to score plenty of goals against 2 opponents that might likely play for a draw we are not even alien to and we have 52 defenders and 65 center forwards or point men.
Who are we relying on creating chances for the forwards? Wingers that prefer to showboat than lay quality crosses?
Point men that have only scored 9 goals in 8 matches?
I know we were not qualifying before but can’t we bow out with pride?
Are some players really ones that cannot be dropped, no matter the state of the team?
Is it criminal to go for broke or try something new by having element of surprise in call-ups?
What has this midfield offered us in really serious situations that wanna be different?
So, our selfish wingers are expected to …
Let’s forget AFCON 2025 then.
This list is not magical and e dey pain me.
Blood new goons, not the stale ones I’m seeing na.
Taa.
Ah, Chelle fall my hand. This list is disastrous already. We will huff and puff again. That’s insanity.
This is true.
Chukwueze in AC Milan? and Dessers in Glasgow Rangers?
That was what NFF first published on their website. They copied it verbatim but I think NFF just edited it perhaps after a backlash.
This list is poor.
Bruno onyemachi again? He always put the team under pressure and his wing is leaking like river Niger. Enough of this now. I thought you were a sound coach but even the error in the players clubs tells me the level of incompetence and corruption brewing in your camp.
You left a team paying you more in Algeria to allow yourself to be corrupted by these Mallams. Now I have failed in my prediction that you deserved the coaching seat after your afcon near miss performance.
You can leave after October else I won’t be surprised because only a desperate man never change a losing formula. Strikers all over the place as if you will play more than a single point man.
Why are you not bold to add Ebenezer like you added Ben? Who’s controlling your brain? Mallam organisation is always starved of wisdom as usual. I say this bitter truth with so much disappointment after all the drama before your employment.
How Chelle fails to see that the midfield is our greatest problem beats me. He has packed the middle again with DMs who never give penetrating or visionary passes, except Iwobi.
Midfielders who do nothing offensively and are even average in their defensive roles. When presented with clear goal-scoring opportunities, they either play it with a weak foot or balloon it over. Midfielders who have never scored in an SE shirt, even though they’ve been in the team for over 10 years. Midfielders who offer no threat whatsoever going forward and can’t feed Osimhen or Dessers.
Are we going to SA to defend or score goals? Maybe he plans to deploy Chukwueze as a No. 10 akin to what he did at the London Unity Cup games.
They think we are playing PlayStation. Lol them for name 23 strikers na since all he thinks about his goal scorers that have not really done well in National colours because of lack of creativity.
Fellow Nigerians, I am once again here because of you.
I have been waiting for this list for a while, but it’s finally here today. Well, we thank God for everything.
However, I sense your pains, my people. You want this, you want that in the team; I get it, but the coach understands this. However, the gaffer decided not to use too many new players for these two World Cup encounters.
Moreover, we all want our darling Super Eagles to be at the World Cup, right? No worries, God is in charge.
Hmmm. Don’t be quick to condemn any player in this squad until after the two matches they will play this month.
The gaffer himself knows what is in front of him, let us wait for what is going to give us.
I believe we are going to make it to the World Cup.
It is not over and never say never. No time to check, let’s Super Eagles get to work. No distractions please. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
I think the gaffer invited that many forwards to observe and pick the best legs amongst them.Because these October games are crucial remember we have struggled in the final third despite dominating games.
He trusts Osimhen and Arokodare so from the pool he may want to see who could add to these two trusted ones by observing them from close range.
He’s covered in the right back because Frederick can also play there.The centre back is good now the big lad Semi is back,so Frederick should support the Birmingham city dude on the right so the defence is well covered as well as the midfield because Chukwueze can function as an attacking option in the midfield so technically the team has 5 midfielder in just two games not bad that in my opinion.
We have 4 midfielders and 4 wingers, and in Chelle’s favorite 4-4-2 formation, the wingers usually tuck into the midfield. So we actually have 8 midfielders. However, I would have liked one or two more central midfielders in the squad, as going into 2 crucial WCQ with just 4 central midfielders is tantamount to tempting fate.
And 5 strikers? I’m disappointed that Durosinmi is not even on Chelle’s radar. He’s arguably the best finisher we have at the moment. Tolu and Dessers are also good finishers, but not as deadly as Durosinmi in my opinion. Osimhen for me is not a consistent finisher. He’ll get goals here and there, but his value comes from his work rate and pressing of defenders. He has to play alongside a finisher for best results. Play him alone, and it will be the same old story of missed chances and wasted opportunities.
Very good submission.
I think Osimhen needs a twin striker, playing as a lone striker has not truly given enough competition in the striking department. A forward like Durosinmi in the attack would add more competition in the attack. His performances in the European continental matches is a testament to his attacking qualities and I think he should get his opportunity.
Ebenezer Akinisanmiro who’s on loan at a Serie A with Pisa has been a true revelation in the current season and deserves to be given a chance to swell up the number of midfield personnel to enhance the quality of the department with the absence of notable players who like Dele Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika.
With the midfield composition, the Super Eagles look short quality and depth.
Well said.
Akinsanmiro would be a great addition to the squad. His recent performances speak for him.
Honestly not sure why Ben Akinsanmiro still not got an invite to the SE. I’ve watched him a couple times in Inter shirt before being loaned out and the boy is good and courageous. We need another ball carrier with an eye for goal, not DMs everywhere. At least invite for the next friendlies against Colombia and Venezuela and play him.
Ekong is the reason why Nigeria is in this worse position we are in today. He scored a beautiful goal against super eagle in South Africa as he was also responsible for the goal scored against us in Uyo when he fell asleep. It is a big shame to continue to play him as the captain of super eagle. For Nigeria to win these two matches, Ekong must stay in the bench. l starts to wonder if Ekong is not a plant.
If ekong had left that ball, the south african striker would still have tapped it in.
Enough of the blames on Ekong.
Or is Ekong also the reason your strikers can’t score goals…..? Is he the reason osimhen is our top scorer in the WCQ despite only playing 3 games….??! Is he the reason we had 3 points from 4 games before Chelle came on board…???
This Culture of scapegoating someone when things aren’t going well for us has to stop
To be honest the lack of creative midfielders in Nigeria’s football is now an endemic problem plaguing our football in general at all levels from Super Eagles down to the least of our national teams the Flamingoes.
The problem has been very obvious in our play since after the 2019 AFCON and even in these all-conquering Falcons and current Flying Eagles, no creativity, can’t string 2-3 successful passes together without giving away possession, opting for long and unpredictable aerial balls instead of short, grounded passes, poor positioning and reading of play and I think part of the reasons are
1. poor coaches and coaching at the elementary/academy stages,
2. poor tactical/technical trainers and training methods at all levels locally,
3. poor orientation of our home-grown players for quick and easy fame – as
goal-scorers gets noticed quicker and easily that every Nigerian kid aspiring to be
a footballer wants the easiest way to limelight, ‘a striker’
4. Economic hardship, just like point 3 above, have made them lose focus on developing their God given talent in their most suitable role, choosing instead to adapt to less comfortable role with less success but escaping poverty in a less fulfilling career
5. Poor Managers/Technical Advisers who can’t manage the play nor the men they are paid to manage
Troost Ekong has been a fine captain for Nigeria. Yes, he’s made mistakes here and there. But he’s also produced heroic performances, even weighing in with vital goals from time to time. And he seems to score goals in important matches. He scored in the 3022 WCQ against Ghana, scored in the Afcob against SA, scored in the Afcob final against CIV.
He is humble, hardworking, carries himself well. He’s been a good captain indeed.
Yes, he’s aging, and is perhaps no longer able to start games. Bassey and Fredericks look like the first choice center backs for now. However, Ekong has definitely earned his plaudits. He’s done very well for Nigetia, and should be appreciated.
If I had my way, I would play 3 center backs in our matches.
With 3 center backs, we beat Argentina in 2018. We are stronger defensively with 3 CB. As the Americans say, if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it? Why are we trying other formations, when one already works well for us? At the last Adcon, even our attack was below par, we still got to the final playing 3 center backs. If we struggle to score goals, we are obligated to ensure that our opponents find it difficult to penetrate us. That’s what 3 CB does for us. When we play 2 CB, we begin to see gaps in our defense, and we are much weaker. Easier to score against. This is what I’ve observed after studying out matches in the last 5 years.
Again, with 2CB, we are vulnerable, but with 3 CB, we are stronger. It’s a no brainer in my opinion.