Seven players received their maiden national team call ups as new Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle unveiled his 39-man provisional list for must-win 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.

The new faces included the duo of papa Mustapha and Ifeanyi Emmanuel Onyebuchi, who are both playing in the Nigerian Premier Football League, and they are joined by Gatefe’s Christantus Uche, Sevilla’s Akor Adams, Genk’s Tolu Arokodare and Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu. 

Meanwhile, Ahmed Musa returned to the squad for the first time since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, joining other senior players, William Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina and a host of other experienced players in the list. 

Chelle is expected to announce his 23-man squad next week and concentrate on first the tie against Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before flying back home to face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later. 

With three draws and a loss in their first four matches of the World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria’s chances of competing in USA, Canada and Mexico next year is in massive jeopardy, and must do everything humanly possible to pick up the maximum six points later this month to boost any opportunity they may have left.

The full 39-man squad list

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 (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); 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).