By Akinwale Kasali
As the Super Eagles of Nigeria prepare for their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Amavubis of Rwanda and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Super Eagles Coach Eric Sekou Chelle, has named a 31-man squad for the cracker.
Chelle has selected Team Captain, William Troost Ekong, First-Choice Goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, Defenders, Olaoluwa Aina and Calvin Bassey, Midfielders, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Simon Moses in a provisional list of 31 for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Also in the squad is youthful goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defenders, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi.
In the midfield, Chelle named Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, as the attacking line up has Sadiq Umar and Nathan Tella.
Young defender, Benjamin Fredericks, rearguard mates, Felix Agu and Igoh Ogbu made the list.
Also in the midfield, Christantus Uche was also included, while forward Cyriel Dessers, who impressed at the 2025 Unity Cup Tournament that Nigeria won in London in the summer, was also invited.
Goalkeeper, Adeleye Adebayo, defender Chidozie Awaziem and forward Terem Moffi made a surprise return to the Super Eagles fold, as they also got invitations following their performances at their respective Clubs.
Fourth-placed Nigeria takes on Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday, 6th September in a match-day seven encounter, before flying to Bloemfontein to confront South Africa in a potentially-explosive Matchday Eight encounter on Tuesday, 9th September.
Nigeria’s camp for the two crucial matches will open in Uyo on Monday, 1st September.
The 31 Super Eagles Players that are in the Provisional List for the Two Matches are:
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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