Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle has named a provisional squad of 39 players for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Included in the list are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Simon Moses.
Also part of the provisional squad are goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, and Sadiq Umar.
There are first-time call-ups for defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche, and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams. Additionally, there could be potential returns for home-based goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defender Jordan Torunarigha, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella, should they make the final 23-man list.
Nigeria, currently fifth in Group C behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and Lesotho, will face leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21st, before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo four days later.
Provisional list of 39 players for Rwanda, Zimbabwe
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United); Maduka Okoye (Udinese); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood ); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos); Gabriel Osho (Auxerre); Calvin Bassey (Fulham ); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest); Zaidu Sanusi (Porto); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent ); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers )
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg); Alex Iwobi (Fulham); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze ( Milan); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough); Victor Boniface (Leverkusen); Simon Moses (Nantes); Sadiq Umar (Valencia); Nathan Tella (Leverkusen); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers); Tolu Arokodare ( Genk); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla); Paul Onuachu (Southampton); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla).
