Eric Chelle Unveils 39 Man Provisional Squad for Crucial World Cup Qualifiers

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle's named 39 man provisional squad for Nigeria’s must win 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda & Zimbabwe this month.

The list includes blend of experienced players and exciting new faces with 8 player earning their 1st ever call ups.

New Faces in the Super Eagles Squad

The newcomers include:

• Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars): The goalkeeper earns his debut call up after stellar NPFL campaign.
• Igho Ogbu (Slavia Prague): The former NPFL defender's rewarded for his solid performances in europe.
• Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International): A league winner with Rangers, now gets his shot at the national team.
• Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes): The CHAN eagles star gets his breakthrough into the senior squad.
• Anthony Dennis (Goztepe): Rising from academy football, he now plays in turkey’s top flight.
• Uche Christantus (Getafe): A midfielder turned forward who's impressed in La Liga.
• Akor Adams (Sevilla): Recently signed by Sevilla, hoping to make his super eagles debut.
• Tolu Arokodare (Genk): The red hot striker with 18 goal & 6 assist this season.

Super Eagles’ Qualification Challenge

Nigeria sits 5th in Group C behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic and Lesotho, making these 2 fixtures crucial. The super eagles face Rwanda in Kigali on 21 March before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo on 25 March.

Full Provisional Squad

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 (AJ Auxerre) - Calvin Bassey (Fulham) - Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest) - Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto) - Igho Ogbu (Slavia Prague) - Jordan Torunarigha (Gent) - Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) - Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge) - Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution) Fisayo Dele Bashiru (Lazio) - Frank Onyeka (Augsburg) - Alex Iwobi (Fulham) Joseph Aribo (Southampton) - Anthony Dennis (Goztepe) - Chrisantus Uche (Getafe) - Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan) - Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) - Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) - Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) - Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen) - Simon Moses (FC Nantes) - Sadiq Umar (Valencia) - Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen) - Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers) - Tolu Arokodare (Genk) Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla) - Paul Onuachu (Southampton) - Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars) - Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla)

The squad will be trimmed down to 23 players before the matches.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.