Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has released his final 23-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, with experienced figures Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho missing from the lineup.
Musa’s initial inclusion in Chelle’s expanded 39-man provisional squad had sparked debate among fans, given his prolonged absence from the national team. However, the Malian tactician, set to lead Nigeria for the first time, ultimately opted to leave out the veteran forward and Iheanacho, who currently plies his trade at Middlesbrough.
Despite being part of Nigeria’s silver-winning squad at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, Musa did not feature in any match, while Iheanacho saw limited game time.
The final squad, announced on Tuesday, includes key players such as Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Simon Moses, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Also making the cut are Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, and Wilfred Ndidi, while Nathan Tella and Joe Aribo return after an extended absence.
Chelle has also handed maiden call-ups to Tolu Arokodare, Igoh Ogbu, and Papa Mustapha as he looks to bolster the squad ahead of the decisive encounters.
Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium four days later. These fixtures mark a critical juncture for Chelle, who assumed managerial duties in January, as he attempts to steer the Super Eagles back on track after a sluggish qualification campaign.
The three-time AFCON champions have struggled in the qualifiers, amassing just three points from four matches—all ending in draws. They currently trail Group C leaders Rwanda by four points, making the upcoming clashes pivotal in reviving their World Cup aspirations.
Below is the list of players invited for the Super Eagles games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe:
Defenders
William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielders
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
