The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released a 39-man provisional squad for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Coach Eric Sekou Chelle’s squad includes some surprise returns, including Ahmed Musa, Nathan Tella, and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Musa, the former captain, is back in the squad after missing the last couple of games, while Tella, the in-form Bayer Leverkusen forward, has also earned a recall. Iheanacho, who now plays for Middlesbrough in the English second-tier league, is another unexpected name on the list, having been off-form and playing just a couple of games after failing to make the grade at Sevilla.
Other notable inclusions are Gabriel Osho of France’s Auxerre, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Olaoluwa Aina. The squad also features goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Simon Moses.
The NFF stated that the list would be reduced to 23 players before tickets are sent to the chosen ones to fly directly to Kigali, Rwanda for the Eagles’ first game against Rwanda in the March World Cup qualifying round.
The team comprises five goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 10 midfielders, and 15 forwards. New entrants into the squad include defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche, Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams.
Nigeria, currently fifth on the Group C log, will face Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali on March 21 before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, four days later.
The full list of players in the provisional squad is:
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:
- Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England)
- Victor Boniface
- Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France)
- Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain)
- Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
- Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
- Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
- Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain)
- Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England)
- Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars)
- Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)