Nigeria have announced a 25-man squad for this week’s Fifa World Cup 2026 Qualifiers African play-offs in Morocco as they seek to book their place at next year’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Super Eagles secured their place in the play-offs after finishing as one of the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup and now have an opportunity to reach the finals through two stages of play-offs.
Their campaign begins with the African play-offs in Morocco this week, where they face Gabon in the semi-finals on Thursday. Should they prevail, they will meet the winner of the other semi-final between DR Congo and Cameroon on Sunday.
As of Tuesday morning, 21 players have reported to camp ahead of the showdown with the Panthers, with the remaining squad members expected to arrive shortly, officials say.
Nigeria are chasing their eighth World Cup appearance, having featured at the tournament in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018. They are one of four African nations competing in Morocco this week alongside Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon, with the continent guaranteed one place at the 2026 finals.
However, the winner of Sunday’s CAF play-off must still overcome teams from other continents in a Fifa intercontinental play-off scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.
The intercontinental play-off will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and one team apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
Coach Eric Chelle has assembled a formidable squad featuring Premier League stars including Fulham duo Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka and Fulham’s Calvin Bassey in defence. The attacking options are led by Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen.
The squad selection also offers a glimpse into Chelle’s plans ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next month, where Nigeria will compete in their group alongside other top African nations.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, US)
Forwards: Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Olakunle Olusegun (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France)
