Ado Salisu
Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, has unveiled a provisional squad of 31 players for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa.
The list features team captain William Troost-Ekong, first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as attacking stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon.
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Also included are youthful goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, alongside forwards Sadiq Umar and Nathan Tella.
Young defender Benjamin Fredericks, rearguard partners Felix Agu and Igoh Ogbu, midfielder Christantus Uche, and striker Cyriel Dessers—who impressed at the 2025 Unity Cup in London—have been handed opportunities. Goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo, defender Chidozie Awaziem, and forward Terem Moffi also return to the squad.
Nigeria, currently fourth in Group C, will host Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Saturday, September 6, before travelling to Bloemfontein to face South Africa on Tuesday, September 9 in what is expected to be a crucial encounter.
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The Super Eagles’ training camp for the double-header will open in Uyo on Monday, September 1.
Full Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC).
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium).
Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain).
Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Adams Akor (Sevilla, Spain).