By Victor Kanayo
Franco-Malian tactician, Eric Chelle, has revealed his first squad since his appointment as Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach.
Heritage Times HT reports that the squad list, which is provisional, will serve as the pool from which the final 23-man team will be selected to face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the 2026 World Cup qualifier ties in March 2025.
The initial list consists of 39 players.
The list marks the return of captain Ahmed Musa and includes some home-based stars.
The team will play away in Kigali on 21 March before hosting Zimbabwe on 25 March in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria.
The full provisional squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania), Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Neon Paralimni, Cyprus), and Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al Khalood, Saudi Arabia), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece), Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Jordan Torunarigha (Gent, Belgium), and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria).
Midfielders: Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes, Nigeria), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England, USA), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy), Frank Onyeka (Augsburg, Germany), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton, England), Anthony Dennis (Goztepe, Turkey), and Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain).
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough, England), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Sadiq Umar (Valencia, Spain), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Paul Onuachu (Southampton, England), Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria), and Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain).
