Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle has unveiled his 23-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic later this month.
The list includes team captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon.
Also making a return to the squad is defender Semi Ajayi, who missed Nigeria’s last two matches in September due to injury. France-based Terem Moffi and former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who now plays in Russia, are also included.
Nigeria, currently in third place, is just three points behind leaders Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa. The Super Eagles will first face Lesotho, known as the Likuena (Crocodiles), at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October, in a Matchday 9 fixture. Following that, they will travel to Uyo to face Benin Republic on Tuesday, 14th October in what is expected to be a fiery encounter.
The squad will begin arriving in Polokwane from their various European and global bases on Monday, 6th October.
Super Eagles 23-Man Squad for World Cup Qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), 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)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey), Simon Moses (Paris FC, France), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France), Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain), Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)
