FIFAWCQ: Chelle announce Nigeria squad for final qualifying matches

Head Coach of Nigeria men senior national team, Eric Chelle has announced Super Eagles 23 man squad ahead for the final round of games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic.

Team captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses have all been called up.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Eric Chelle has unveiled his 23-man list for October’s #FIFAWCQ vs Lesotho 🇱🇸 & Benin 🇧🇯.

👑 Captain William Troost-Ekong leads the team
🔙 Semi Ajayi, Terem Moffi, Alhassan Yusuf & Olakunle Olusegun return
🆕 Akor… pic.twitter.com/QPuM9QJQPX

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 3, 2025

Meanwhile, defender Semi Ajayi, who missed the last two matches in the September window due to injury, returns to the group.

Also, OG Nice forward, Terem Moffi returns to the squad. Likewise former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays his club football in Russia made Chelle’s list.

Nigeria will face Lesotho in matchday nine

Nigeria who are in third place and only three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, will tackle with the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October in a Matchday 9 encounter,

Then they will head back to Uyo to battle leaders Benin Republic in the final Matchday game on Tuesday, 14th October. For the three time African champions to qualify for the 2026 World Cup they must win their next two fixtures to stand a chance.

The players are scheduled to fly into South Africa from their different bases, to converge in Polokwane on Monday, 6th October.

Nigeria Squad;

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

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); 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).

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).