Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has named Victor Osimhen, captain Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi in his 24-man squad for Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze are also included, while Isaac James, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor have received their first senior invitations.
Nigeria will host Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs in Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
Chelle selected three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders and nine forwards for the two fixtures.
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James, who plays for Alverca in Portugal, is the only first-time invitee among the defenders. Ilenikhena of Al-Ittihad and LASK winger Usor are the new additions to the attack.
England-based defenders Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredrick return to the squad, having missed Nigeria’s recent engagements.
Arthur Okonkwo and Chibuike Nwaiwu, who impressed during Nigeria’s Unity Cup triumph in London, retain their places and will compete with more established players for starting positions.
Okonkwo joins Nwabali and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye as Chelle’s three options in goal.
Hull City defender Semi Ajayi is included alongside Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Nwaiwu, Fredrick, Aina and James.
The midfield contains Ndidi, Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika.
Osimhen leads a nine-man attack that also features Lookman, Simon, Chukwueze, Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, in addition to newcomers Ilenikhena and Usor.
The two matches will begin Nigeria’s qualification campaign for the 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Super Eagles squad
Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa).
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Isaac James (Alverca, Portugal); Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers, Scotland); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Frank Onyeka (Coventry City, England).
Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands); George Ilenikhena (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia); Moses Usor (LASK, Austria).
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