Chelle announces Nigeria provisional squad for September 2026 World Cup qualifiers

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the provisional list of 31 players selected by Head Coach Eric Chelle for the nations senior mens’ team ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in September.

 

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Head coach Chelle selected team captain William Troost-Ekong, first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as well as defenders Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey. Midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi have been called in alongside forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon for matches against Rwanda and South Africa.

The provisional list also includes new faces like Flying Eagles and home-based goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt and defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The squad also features players who have recently impressed, such as attackers Christantus Uche and Cyriel Dessers, who both shone during Nigeria’s victorious campaign at the 2025 Unity Cup Tournament in London.

The Super Eagles currently sit in fourth place in Group C with 7 points, and the upcoming matches are must-wins to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Nigeria take on Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday, 6th September in a Matchday 7 encounter, before flying to Bloemfontein to confront South Africa in a potentially-explosive Matchday 8 encounter on Tuesday, 9th September.

Nigeria’s camp for the two crucial matches will open in Uyo on Monday, 1st September.

Complete Nigeria provisional 31 man-list for Rwanda & South Africa:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Adams Akor (Sevilla FC, Spain)