Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekou Chelle has unveiled a provisional squad of 31 players ahead of September crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa. The list features captain William Troost-Ekong, first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and attacking stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon. Chelle has also handed opportunities to promising talents, including goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, defender Benjamin Fredericks, and midfielder Christantus Uche, alongside established names like Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, and Terem Moffi, who makes a return. Others earning recalls include goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo and defender Chidozie Awaziem, while forward Cyriel Dessers is rewarded for his impressive showing at the 2025 Unity Cup Tournament in London. Nigeria, currently fourth in Group C, will face Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on September 6 in Matchday 7 before traveling to Bloemfontein for a decisive clash with South Africa on Tuesday, 9 September. The Eagles’ training camp officially opens in Uyo on Monday, September 1. Provisional squad 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, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium). Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain). Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (Nice, France); Adams Akor (Sevilla, Spain).
