Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle on Tuesday named his final 23-man squad ahead of this month’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Afrosport reports.
Chelle included four new faces in his final team, which has been trimmed down from the initial 39-man squad the Malian announced earlier this month.
The 47-year-old will be looking to hand international debuts to Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Slavia Prague defender Igoh Ogbu, Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha, and Genk striker Tolu Arokodare.
Notable omissions from the provisional squad include Kano Pillars forward Ahmed Musa, Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Udinese goalie Maduka Okoye, Zaidu Sanusi, Frank Onyeka, Chidera Ejuke, and Cyriel Dessers.
The final squad, meanwhile, has regulars like captain William Troost-Ekong, Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, and Alex Iwobi.
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze all also made the final cut, while Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella returns to the national team after a year.
The Super Eagles are fifth in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers with three points, four behind leaders Rwanda.
Chelle’s men will face the Amavubi of Rwanda on Friday, 21 March, at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, before welcoming the Warriors of Zimbabwe to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo four days later.
Final 23-man Super Eagles Squad for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
