Newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has announced his first-ever provisional squad ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
Chelle has called up 35 players, striking a balance between experience and emerging talent. Captain Ahmed Musa returns to the fold, alongside assistant captain William Troost-Ekong and Joe Aribo. Notably, six fresh faces have earned their first invitations to the national team.
Among the newcomers are home-based players Papa Mustapha, Kayode Bankole, and Ifeanyi Emmanuel Onyebuchi, highlighting Chelle’s commitment to scouting local talent.
The Super Eagles will begin their qualification campaign with an away fixture against Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before hosting Zimbabwe on March 25.
Full Super Eagles Squad
Goalkeepers
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)
Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Neon Paralimni, Cyprus)
Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
Defenders
William Troost-Ekong (Al Khalood, Saudi Arabia)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey)
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece)
Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England)
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Jordan Torunarigha (Gent, Belgium)
Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)
Midfielders
Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria)
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England, USA)
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy)
Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany)
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England)
Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton, England)
Anthony Dennis (Goztepe, Turkey)
Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain)
Forwards
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough, England)
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Moses Simon (Nantes, France)
Sadiq Umar (Valencia, Spain)
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain)
Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England)
Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria)
Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain)
With high expectations for the qualifiers, fans will be eager to see how Chelle’s new-look squad performs in their bid for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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