Okoye, Ejuke Return As Chelle Unveils 24-man Squad For World Cup Playoff Battles

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has unveiled a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup African Playoff Tournament, scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, next week.

Notable inclusions include Captain William Ekong, star forward, Victor Osimhen; goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, and defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, while Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Spain-based forward Chidera Ejuke were recalled to the team.

The squad also features 89-cap midfielder Alex Iwobi, promising young defender Benjamin Fredericks, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman.

Nigeria is set to face Gabon in the first semi-final, which will be held at the 22,000-capacity Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat.

The other semi-final will see Cameroon take on the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 18,000-capacity El-Barid Stadium, also in Rabat.

Chelle also recalled goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Spain-based forward Chidera Ejuke to the squad, alongside midfielders Raphael Onyedika and forwards Tolu Arokodare, Jerome Akor Adams and Olusegun Olakunle.

Defender Oluwasemilogo Ajayi will miss the match against the Panthers on Thursday due to suspension after receiving two yellow cards during the qualifying campaign.

The players were expected to arrive in Morocco from their various clubs in Europe and beyond, converging in Rabat on Monday, 10th November.

Below is the list of Super Eagles players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa Playoff Tournament:

Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)

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)
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France)
Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
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)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)

Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy)
Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England)
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
Simon Moses (Paris FC, France)
Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)
Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)