Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named a provisional 31-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa in September.
The Super Eagles provisional list is headlined by captain William Troost-Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, alongside midfielder Alex Iwobi and tough tackler Wilfred Ndidi. Also included are forwards Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.
Emerging talents such as goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi, as well as midfielders Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, are included in the list. In the attack, Sadiq Umar and Nathan Tella are also set to compete for places.
The coach also handed call-ups to promising defender Benjamin Fredericks, versatile full-back Felix Agu, centre-back Igoh Ogbu, and midfielder Christantus Uche, while forward Cyriel Dessers, who shone during Nigeria’s 2025 Unity Cup triumph in London, has been rewarded with another invitation.
Nigeria, currently sitting fourth in Group C, will host Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Saturday, September 6, before travelling to Bloemfontein to face long-time rivals South Africa on Tuesday, September 9, in what promises to be a fiercely contested showdown.
The Super Eagles will open camp in Uyo on Monday, September 1, as preparations begin for the two must-win encounters.
Below is Eric Chelle’s Full Provisional List
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); 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); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Adams Akor (Sevilla FC, Spain)
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