Super Eagles Head Coach, Éric Chelle, has announced a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s opening matches in the race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with captain Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi headlining the list.
The three-time African champions will begin their qualifying campaign against Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs on Tuesday, September 29.
According to a statement from the NFF Communications Department on Thursday, Chelle retained the core of the team that reached the quarter-finals of the last AFCON in Morocco, while also handing opportunities to new faces.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defender Semi Ajayi, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and forwards Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon are among the regulars recalled for the double-header.
The Franco-Malian tactician also invited goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare.
In defence, England-based duo Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Benjamin Fredricks of Brentford FC make a return to the fold after recent spells on the sidelines.
Unity Cup revelations, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo of Charlton Athletic and defender Chibuike Nwaiwu of Trabzonspor, have also been rewarded with call-ups and will battle for shirts with more established names.
There are first-time invitations for Portugal-based defender Isaac James and forwards George Ilhenikina, who plays for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, and Moses Usor of LASK FC in Austria.
The full list of 24 players includes three goalkeepers, nine defenders, four midfielders and eight forwards, reflecting Chelle’s intention to go all out for attack in both games.
In goal, Chelle will have Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali to choose from, while the defence parade includes Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ola Aina.
The midfield will be marshalled by captain Wilfred Ndidi alongside Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Frank Onyeka, while the attack will be led by Osimhen, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilhenikina and Moses Usor.
Meanwhile, Coach Chelle has also released a separate 24-man squad for Nigeria’s high-profile international friendly against Russia’s senior national team.
The friendly, which will see the Super Eagles trade tackles with the Russians known as ‘The Boys’, is scheduled for the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6.
For the Russia game, Chelle opted for a largely experimental squad led by captain Ndidi, goalkeeper Nwabali, defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and forward Moses Simon.
The list features NPFL stars Michael Atata of Ikorodu City and Kenneth Igboke of Enugu Rangers, as well as Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe.
Six midfielders and three forwards are also set to make their senior debuts for Nigeria in the friendly, as Chelle looks to widen the pool for the World Cup and AFCON campaigns.
In the goalkeeping department for the Russia tie, Atata and Samuel James join regular Nwabali, while the defence includes Igboke, Isaac James, Fredricks, Fernandez, Akpe, Osayi-Samuel and Abdullahi Bewene of Banik Ostrava.
Midfield options include Ndidi, Onyedika, Chibuzo Nwoko of Fulham, Stephen Michael of Vendsyssel, Igor Wilfred of Kristiansund, Ridwan Abdulrasaq of Al Wasl, Suleiman Mubarak of Slavia Prague and Aderemi Adeoye of Ikorodu City.
Up front, former Leicester City star Kelechi Iheanacho, now with Bursaspor, leads the line alongside Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Peter Edokpolor of Benfica, Abubakar Umar of Famalicao and Abdullahi Umar of Hradec Kralove.
The NFF said all invited players for the AFCON qualifiers are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, September 22, while the contingent for the Russia friendly will converge in Nizhny Novgorod on October 4.
