Full house as Chelle assembles first army for W’Cup qualifiers
As the Super Eagles camp bubbles in Kigali, ABIODUN ADEWALE and PETER AKINBO highlight the numbers behind the form of Chelle’s 23-man squad
GOALKEEPERS
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United)
South Africa-based goalkeeper Nwabali arrived for his first duty under Eric Chelle on Monday night. The 28-year-old has made 16 appearances for the Super Eagles since his major debut with the team during a friendly against Guinea in January 2024.
So far this season, he has played 19 league games for his club, conceding 15 goals and keeping seven clean sheets. He is favoured to man the sticks during Friday’s clash.
Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)
Former Bendel Insurance shot-stopper Obasogie returns to the national team with his ninth invitation but he is yet to feature for the Super Eagles.
Having just switched clubs this campaign; he has played 11 games in the Tanzania Premier League, conceding 10 goals with three clean sheets. He has been part of the qualifiers since November 2023 and might be good competition for Nwabali as well.
Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
The only home-based among the keepers – although the other two only left the Nigerian League recently – Bankole, earns his first Super Eagles call-up after a few engagements with the home-based Eagles.
At club level, he has played just seven games in the NPFL, conceding six goals with three clean sheets.
DEFENDERS
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood)
At 31, team captain Troost-Ekong is at his peak as one of the most reliable defenders in the national team. He would be increasing his 71 caps for Nigeria during this window and has scored seven goals since his debut in June 2015.
Since he moved to Saudi Arabia last summer, the defender has played 23 times for his club with two goals and one assist.
Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
Bassey teams up with the rest of the squad in what is his best season in Europe. He is one of the most consistent players in the English Premier League, having only missed one of Fulham’s 29 games this season. He also has a goal to his name.
His debut for Nigeria was during the ill-fated 2022 World Cup playoffs against Ghana and he would be determined to help new coach Eric Chelle turn the 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign around. The 25-year-old has 29 caps for Nigeria.
Jordan Torunarigha (Gent)
Originally left out of the final list for these games, Torunarigha came in as a replacement for the injured Nathan Tella to take the number of defenders in camp to seven.
He has one cap for Nigeria which came during the friendly match against Mozambique in October 2023.
While he has been snubbed for national team duties before now, he has kept going for his club in Belgium with 23 league appearances and one assist so far this season.
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)
Aina started playing for Nigeria in 2017 under coach Genort Rohr and has made 40 appearances since then. Now a mainstay in the national team, the 28-year-old comes into the current team under new coach Chelle with the form of his life.
At Nottingham Forest this season, Aina has become one of the best defenders in the EPL, making 29 appearances with two goals and one assist.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce)
During his debut in the 4-0 defeat against Portugal in November 2022, Osayi-Samuel was figured as one of the best performers in the game and has gone on to make 20 appearances in the Nigerian colours since then. The full-back is yet to score but has an assist, just as he has done this season with Fenerbahce in 17 league games.
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos)
Onyemaechi’s Nigerian debut in the 6-0 rout of Sao Tome and Principe in October 2023 and the left-back has made 11 appearances since then. Having just moved from Boavista in Portugal to Greek champions Olympiacos in January, the 25-year-old has made just two appearances from the bench.
Igho Ogbu (Slavia Prague)
The only potential debutant among the defenders, Ogbu announced himself again to Nigerians with a goal in Slavia Prague’s big win over Jablonec in the Czech Republic league on Sunday, his second goal of the season. The former Gombe United defender also revealed recently that he rejected the chance to play for the Norwegian national team during his time in the country as he waited for his chance with the Super Eagles.
MIDFIELDERS
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
The 28-year-old midfielder returns to the national team setup with his first call-up under Eric Chelle. The defensive midfielder has made 56 appearances for the Super Eagles since his debut in 2015 against DR Congo.
This season, Ndidi has featured in 21 league matches for Leicester City, contributing one goal and four assists. His consistent performances have reportedly caught the attention of Atletico Madrid, who have added him to their shortlist for a potential summer move.
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
Onyedika earned his first Nigeria cap in September 2022 in a friendly against Algeria and was part of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The midfielder has been impressive for Club Brugge this season with 36 appearances, two goals and two assists across all competitions. Despite his club’s recent exit from the Champions League after a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa (6-1 on aggregate), Onyedika remains in contention for the Belgian league title.
Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution)
Yusuf made his AFCON debut against Equatorial Guinea in January 2024 but had to be substituted in the 69th minute due to injury. He had been called up as Ndidi’s replacement in the Nigerian squad for the tournament.
Since moving to Major League Soccer, the midfielder has started all four matches for New England Revolution this season. Though yet to register a goal or assist in the current campaign, his consistent performances have kept him in Chelle’s plans.
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)
One of the most experienced players in the squad, Iwobi has accumulated 83 appearances for Nigeria, placing him among the top seven Eagles in all-time caps. He has represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup and three AFCON tournaments, including the 2023 edition where Nigeria finished as runners-up.
The 28-year-old has been in sparkling form for Fulham this season with seven goals and four assists in 29 Premier League appearances, establishing himself as one of Marco Silva’s most trusted players.
Joe Aribo (Southampton FC)
Since making his debut in 2019 against Ukraine, where he scored just four minutes into the match, Aribo has made 34 appearances for the Super Eagles. He featured in the 2021 and 2023 AFCON tournaments.
The midfielder has made 28 Premier League appearances for Southampton this season, scoring three goals as his side battles relegation. Southampton currently sit bottom of the table with just nine points.
Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
The only potential debutant among the midfielders, 23-year-old Mustapha is one of the breakout stars of the 2024/25 NPFL season. He impressed during the home-based Eagles qualifiers for the 2024 CHAN tournament with his dribbling ability, passing range and long-range shooting.
The Niger Tornadoes midfielder has tallied three goals and two assists in 18 NPFL appearances this season, though he has missed his club’s last five matches amid rumours of a move abroad. His inclusion comes as a surprise, given his recent inactivity.
FORWARDS
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan)
Chukwueze has made 42 appearances for Nigeria since his debut in November 2018, scoring six goals. He netted his first senior international goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over South Africa in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFCON and was part of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 tournament.
The winger has struggled for regular playing time at AC Milan under manager Sergio Conceicao, being an unused substitute in five of nine Serie A matches since returning from a hamstring injury in January. Overall, he has contributed five goals and one assist in 29 appearances this season as Milan sit ninth in the table.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC)
With 23 goals in 39 games, Osimhen has equalled Segun Odegbami’s scoring record for Nigeria. The striker has been in sensational form since joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, netting 26 goals and providing six assists in 30 matches across all competitions as they aim to secure successive Turkish Super League titles.
The 26-year-old’s future remains uncertain with several Premier League clubs reportedly interested in activating his €75m release clause, while rumours linking him with Juventus have also surfaced.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC)
Since making his Nigeria debut, Lookman has scored eight goals in 27 appearances. He played a crucial role in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 AFCON final and was subsequently named CAF African Player of the Year.
The Atalanta forward has established himself as one of Serie A’s most consistent performers, emerging as the highest-rated player in the Italian top flight this season with an impressive 7.37 rating. He has registered 18 goals and seven assists in 32 matches across all competitions.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)
Boniface made his Nigeria debut in September 2023 against Benin Republic, providing an assist for Samuel Chukwueze. Despite his 11 appearances for the Super Eagles, he is yet to score his first international goal.
The striker was initially named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 AFCON but was forced to withdraw due to a muscle injury. This season, he has scored 10 goals and provided one assist in 22 appearances in a tumultuous season for Bayer Leverkusen as reports intensify on a summer exit.
Moses Simon (FC Nantes)
One of the squad’s most experienced players, Simon has made 73 appearances for Nigeria since his debut in March 2015, scoring nine goals. He has featured in three AFCON tournaments for the Super Eagles.
The winger has been in fine form for Nantes this season with six goals and eight assists in 24 league matches. Despite concerns over lingering ankle pain from a fibula fracture suffered in March 2024, Simon completed 90 minutes in Nantes’ recent 1-0 victory over Lille.
Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC)
After representing Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics, where he scored four goals including a brace in the third-place victory over Honduras, Umar has gone on to make 12 appearances for the senior team and scored a goal.
The striker has been in blistering form since joining Valencia on loan in January, scoring four goals in eight appearances. His goals have been crucial in Valencia’s fight to avoid relegation, with the club currently sitting just one point above the drop zone.
Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk)
The 24-year-old striker receives his first call-up to the Super Eagles after an impressive season in Belgium. Arokodare is currently the highest goal scorer in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League with 16 goals in 29 games.
Overall, he has netted 18 goals and provided six assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this season, making him the third most prolific Nigerian striker in Europe behind Victor Osimhen (26) and Cyriel Dessers (22), who didn’t make the list.
COACH
Eric Chelle
The 47-year-old French/Malian was appointed as Super Eagles head coach on January 7, replacing Augustine Eguavoen who had served in an interim capacity. Born in Ivory Coast to a French father and Malian mother, Chelle brings a diverse background to the Nigerian setup.
As a player, Chelle spent his entire career in France, featuring for clubs like Lens, Valenciennes, and Istres before transitioning into coaching. At international level, he earned five caps for Mali. His coaching journey began at US Boulogne in 2021 before taking charge of Mali’s national team in 2022, where he spent over two years before a brief stint with MC Oran in Algeria’s Ligue 1 Pro.
Since his appointment, Chelle has been proactive in scouting Nigerian talents both abroad and at home. He travelled extensively across England to observe Nigeria’s Premier League contingent, visited France to watch Moses Simon in action, and attended numerous NPFL matches across the country to identify domestic talent.
This first international window presents Chelle with the challenge of reviving Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, which got off to a disappointing start under previous management.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Hedi Taboubi
Taboubi, a French/ Tunisian will serve as Chelle’s first assistant. He was also the 47-year-old’s assistant during his reign with the Eagles of Mali.
Daniel Ogunmodede
Remo Stars coach Ogunmodede will continue his role with the national team under Chelle. His first chance came during the last two 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda last year. Afterwards, he led the Super Eagles B to qualify for the 2024 CHAN tournament.
Fidelis Ilechukwu
Like his NPFL counterpart, Ilechukwu will continue his role with the national team with Chelle after working with interim coach and NFF Technical Director Austin Eguavoen last year. He was also in the backroom during the 2024 CHAN qualifiers.
Thomas Gornourec
Gornourec, who holds a UEFA A License and master’s degree, will take up the role of fitness trainer. He began earnestly with the first six players that arrived at camp on Monday.
Jean Daniel Padovani
Padovani, Chelle’s goalkeeper trainer, had also worked as Comoros’ goalkeeper trainer at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
