- Super Eagles’ camp opens in Kigali March 16
- Battle Wasps of Rwanda on March 21
Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has unveiled his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with three known names, former Captain Ahmed Musa, forward Kelechi Iheanacho and Keeper Maduka Okoye, conspicuously missing from the final list.
Musa, Nigeria’s most capped international player, was included in the provisional 39-man squad earlier released by the Coach, but failed to make the final cut.
The same goes for Okoye, who plies his trade as Udinese FC of Italy goalkeeper, and Iheanacho currently donning the jerseys of Middlesbrough (on loan from Sevilla).
The Nigerian National team have a date with Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month in what obviously are make or mar matches if they must feature at the Mundial to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and United States
According to the team’s schedule, the camp will open in Kigali on March 16, ahead of their match against the Wasps of Rwanda on March 21 before hosting the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital
Those who made Coach Chelle’s final squad are:
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)
