Super Hawks coach Eric Chelle unleashed his last 23-man squad in Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The Mary manager initially released a 39-man interim team for this month’s key qualifiers, but has now narrowed the list to 23 players.
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa was excluded from the initial temporary squad, sparking debate between fans and analysts, but was excluded from the last choice. Kelechi Iheanacho was also excluded.
Meanwhile, Chelle chose to retain key players such as Stanley Nwabali, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
Nigeria will face Group C leader Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21, and then four days later, on March 25, four days later, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in UYO.
Rwanda’s 23-man Super Hawks, Zimbabwe Cookies
goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali (South Africa Chipa United); 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 Football Club, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielder: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyesika (Bruger Club, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution in the United States); Alex Iwobi (Fulham Football Club, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton Football Club, England); Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornado).
forward: Samuel Chukwueze (Ac Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atlanta Football Club, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia Football Club, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium).
