Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has unveiled a provisional 39-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, marking head coach Eric Chelle’s first major selection since his permanent appointment in January.
The preliminary list features eight new players making their first appearance in the national team setup, alongside a mix of experienced internationals including veteran Ahmed Musa and key players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi. Coach Chelle will ultimately trim the squad down to 23 players for the crucial group stage matches.
Among the newcomers are defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche, and Papa Daniel Mustapha, as well as forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams. These fresh faces will compete for spots alongside established national team stars.
The Super Eagles face a challenging double-header in the World Cup qualification campaign. They will first travel to Kigali to face group leaders Rwanda on 21 March, before returning home to host Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo four days later. Currently sitting fifth in Group C behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and Lesotho, the matches represent a critical opportunity for Nigeria to improve their qualification prospects.
The squad boasts a strong mix of local and international-based players, with representation from leagues across Africa, Europe, and North America. Experienced players like William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi provide leadership, while emerging talents seek to make their mark on the international stage.
Coach Chelle will make his final selection in the coming days, with fans and football enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the team’s performance in these crucial World Cup qualifying matches.
Full Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
- Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)
- Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus)
- Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders
- William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
- Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey)
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece)
- Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France)
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
- Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
- Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
- Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
- Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium)
- Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)
Midfielders
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
- Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
- Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA)
- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy)
- Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany)
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
- Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England)
- Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey)
- Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)
- Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards
- Victor Osimhen
- Ademola Lookman
- Moses Simon
- Samuel Chukwueze
- Sadiq Umar
- Ahmed Musa
- Tolu Arokodare
- Jerome Akor Adams
