Super Eagles had coach Chelle unveils list of 39 players for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers

SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has published a provisional list of 39 players who he has invited to camp for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.

Nigeria will take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later on the 25th. These two matches are very crucial as the Super Eagles look to revive their faltering qualification campaign for the 2026 World cup coming up in North America next year.

Appointed in January as the first non-Nigerian African to coach the Super Eagles, Mr Chelle has largely kept faith with the core of the squad that finished second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. His 39-man squad comprises of five goalkeepers, ten defenders, 10 midfielders and 14 attackers.

Captain William Troost-Ekong, who won the Player of the Tournament award at the frican Cup of Nations leads the defensive line-up alongside regulars Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), and Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos). In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) returns to the fold alongside Alex Iwobi (Fulham) and Frank Onyeka (Augsburg).

Mr Chelle's attack is headlined by Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s second all-time top goalscorer currently on loan at Galatasaray, with Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year also included. There are several new names on the list, providing depth across the entire squad.

Slavia Prague defender Igoh Ogbu, Enugu Rangers strongman Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Turkey-based Anthony Dennis and new Sevilla boy Akor Adams. Getafe youngster Christantus Uche and Genk forward Tolu Arokodare earn first time call-ups while there is a return to the national fold for captain Ahmed Musa, Nathan Tella, Paul Onuachu, Jordan Torunarigha and Cyriel Dessers.

Full Super Eagles squad list

Goalkeepers

Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)

Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)

Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)

Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Neon Paralimni, Cyprus)

Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria)

Defenders

William Ekong (Al Khalood, Saudi Arabia)

Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey)

Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece)

Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France)

Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England)

Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)

Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Jordan Torunarigha (Gent, Belgium)

Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Midfielders

Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria)

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)

Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)

Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England, USA)

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy)

Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany)

Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England)

Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton, England)

Anthony Dennis (Goztepe, Turkey)

Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain)

Forwards

Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey)

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy)

Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough, England)

Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Simon Moses (Nantes, France)

Sadiq Umar (Valencia, Spain)

Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)

Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain)

Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England)

Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria)

Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain)