Musa, Okoye Out As Chelle Names 23-man Super Eagles Squad For World Cup Qualifiers

Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Éric Sékou Chelle, has unveiled his final 23-man squad for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Among the selected players are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Kayode Bankole; defenders William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Olaoluwa Aina, as well as midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi. The forward line includes Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Moses Simon.

However, notably absent from the final squad is Kano Pillars’ captain, Ahmed Musa, who was initially included in the provisional 39-man list but did not make the cut.

Other players who secured a spot include defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar. Czech Republic-based defender Igoh Ogbu also makes the list, alongside home-based midfielder Papa Mustapha and Belgium-based striker Tolu Arokodare.

The Super Eagles will first face Group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21, before hosting Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on March 25.

The 23-man Super Eagles squad for Rwanda, Zimbabwe clash:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium).