Eric Chelle announces Nigeria’s squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle Names Provisional 31-Man Squad for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have officially taken a major step toward their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as head coach Eric Chelle unveiled a provisional 31-man squad for the upcoming international break in August 2025.

With the qualifiers for Africa set to resume, Nigeria is preparing for crucial fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa, two matches that could play a significant role in shaping their path to the tournament.

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A Shift in Squad Selection

Chelle’s selection comes on the back of Nigeria’s disappointing showing at CHAN 2024, where the home-based Eagles struggled to make an impact. In response, the coach has leaned heavily on foreign-based players this time, aiming to blend experience with fresh attacking firepower.

Although the squad currently stands at 31 players, Chelle is expected to trim the list down to the final 26-man roster in the days leading up to the qualifiers. Nevertheless, the announcement has already stirred lively debates among fans on social media, with discussions ranging from squad depth to positional battles.

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Full Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers:

• Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)

• Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance, Nigeria)

• Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

• Harcourt Ebenezer (Katsina United, Nigeria)

Defenders:

• William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Thessaloniki, Greece)

• Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)

• Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)

• Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe SK, Turkey)

• Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

• Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

• Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal)

• Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany)

• Benjamin Fredricks (Viking FK, Norway)

Midfielders:

• Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

• Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

• Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)

• Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)

• Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)

• Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)

• Christantus Uche (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Forwards:

• Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy)

• Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)

• Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey)

• Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)

• Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

• Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

• Cyriel Dessers (Rangers FC, Scotland)

• Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)

• Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)

• Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)

• Akor Adams (Montpellier HSC, France)

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Key Talking Points

• Return of Experience: Troost-Ekong and Ndidi bring leadership and stability, both having been core members of Nigeria’s recent campaigns.

• Attacking Depth: With Osimhen, Boniface, Lookman, and Chukwueze all in the mix, the Super Eagles boast one of the most fearsome attacking lineups in Africa.

• Homegrown Representation: While limited, Chelle included a few domestic players such as Amas Obasogie and Christantus Uche, signaling his intent not to completely shut the door on the NPFL.

• Debut Hopefuls: Players like Benjamin Fredricks and Felix Agu will be eager to prove themselves if given the chance.

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As anticipation builds, the Nigerian faithful will be watching closely to see how Chelle finalizes his squad. With fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa on the horizon, the Super Eagles’ road to the 2026 World Cup is about to intensify.