Chelle names 31-man Super Eagles squad for World Cup qualifiers
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has announced a 31-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in September.
Nigeria will host Rwanda before travelling to Bloemfontein to face South Africa on September 9, in two crucial fixtures that could define their qualification hopes for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next year.
Chelle has remained faithful to several established names, including Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, and Captain William Troost-Ekong.
The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in Group C with seven points, trailing South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin Republic. With only the group winners guaranteed a ticket to the World Cup, the upcoming games are widely seen as must-win encounters if Nigeria are to revive their qualification campaign.
Full list
Goalkeepers
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC)
Defenders
William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)
Midfielders
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)
Forwards
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Adams Akor (Sevilla FC, Spain)
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