The long-awaited squad list for must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe is finally out and as expected it has attracted good, bad and even damning comments from the millions of ‘football coaches’ in Nigeria.
One of the highlights of this selection that for the first time in a very long time Nigerians have been given the opportunity to see a provisional squad of players leading up to an official game.
Previously, we only get to see the final squad of players, often just days to a match involving the national team.
An enlarged squad list does not only suggest transparency and accountability, it also gives close watchers of the game an idea of how the coach is thinking going into a match.
From the 39-man provisional squad, former Mali coach Eric Chelle has retained the core of the team who qualified Nigeria to the 2025 AFCON in November.
And so the likes of captain William Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Moses Simon and Ola Aina have made the cut.
He has recalled some players, while also handing a chance to a good number of players yet to be capped by the Super Eagles, all based on current form.
Tolu Arokodare is the leading scorer in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League with 16 goals, his most prolific season in Europe since he moved in 2019; former Flying Eagles defender Igho Ogbu has consistently delivered top-rate performances for top Czech club Slavia Praha, while the likes of Chrisantus Uche, Jerome Akor and Anthony Dennis have been encouraged to push ahead.
By so doing, Eric Chelle has freshened the squad to allow for a much-needed competition for squad places.
The growing agitation to give the players from the domestic league a sense of belonging in the full national team has seen as many as four players included on the expanded squad – Ahmed Musa, Kayode Bankole, Papa Daniel and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi.
Bankole, Papa Daniel and Onyebuchi were part of the CHAN Eagles who soared above perennial Nemesis Ghana to qualify for this year’s CHAN in East Africa, while Ahmed Musa has led Kano Pillars with distinction and his influence in the dressing room is desperately needed at this crucial stage of the qualifiers for the biggest ever Mundial.
The biggest task for the coach is now to trim this crowd of players to his final 23-man fighting squad.
Thereafter, get the players to bring together their undoubted individual qualities to beat Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month to revive Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification hopes after they failed to win their first four matches.
It is Mission Possible.
The Super Eagles Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)
