Chelle prunes list of Eagles invitees down to 23 for Rwanda and Zimbabwe World Cup qualifiers

SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has pruned down his list of players that will participate in the two forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe to 23 ahead of both matches later this month.

Last week, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) invited 39 players to camps and now Mr Chelle has pruned the list down, opting for a team made up of three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and eight forwards. As expected, key regulars made the cut, with Africa Player of the Year Ademola Lookman and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen spearheading the attack.

Stanley Nwabali retains his spot in goal, while defensive stalwarts William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey are also included in the team. In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika feature prominently, with newcomers Genk forward Tolu Arokodare and former Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie also making the cut.

Notably, 16 players from the initial squad were dropped, including Göztepe youngster Anthony Dennis and Southampton striker Paul Onuachu. Despite his brilliance for Udinese last night on his return from injury, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye also misses out, as do Ahmed Musa and Glasgow Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.

Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before returning to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo to lock horns with Zimbabwe four days later. Both games are must-win fixture for the Super Eagles who have endured a torrid start to the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Nigeria's Super Eagles had drawn three of their World Cup qualifiers and lost one to Benin Republic before Mr Chelle was appointed manager in January. A former Mali national team coach, he is the first non-Nigerian African coach to take charge of the Super Eagles and will be hoping to get the World Cup campaign back on track.

List of 23

Goalkeepers:

Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

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