The newly appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has announced his first-ever provisional squad ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The Bureau Newspaper gathered that Chelle has called up 35 players, blending experienced stars with fresh faces as he begins his tenure with the national team.
Team captain Ahmed Musa makes a return to the squad alongside vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo. The list also includes six new players, with home-based stars such as Papa Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars), and Ifeanyi Emmanuel Onyebuchi earning call-ups.
The Super Eagles will face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe on March 25 in their bid to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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)
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)
The Bureau Newspaper gathered that Chelle’s squad selection has generated discussions among football fans, with many eager to see how the new players will integrate into the team. With Nigeria aiming for a strong start in the qualifiers, all eyes will be on the Super Eagles as they take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the crucial matches ahead.