CHELLE NAMES SUPER EAGLES SQUADS FOR AFCON QUALIFIERS AND RUSSIA FRIENDLY

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has announced separate 24-man squads for Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, as well as the subsequent international friendly against Russia. Nigeria will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29. The Super Eagles will then take on Russia in Nizhny Novgorod on October 6.

For the AFCON qualifiers, Chelle has retained several of Nigeria’s established stars, with Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze among the headline names. Goalkeepers Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye and returning Stanley Nwabali were selected, while the defensive group includes Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Olaoluwa Aina.

The midfield options consist of Ndidi, Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, while the attacking department features Moses Simon, Osimhen, Akor Adams, Chukwueze, Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor. Isaac James, Ilenikhena and Usor are among the players receiving new opportunities, while Aina and Fredricks return to the squad. Osimhen's inclusion will also be closely monitored because of the injury that has kept him out of action recently.

Chelle has opted for a different group for the Russia friendly, although Ndidi, Nwabali, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Benjamin Fredricks, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Raphael Onyedika are among the players retained. The Russia squad also gives opportunities to several less-established players, including Ikorodu City goalkeeper Michael Atata, Finland-based Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe. Kelechi Iheanacho is also back in the national-team picture for the friendly.

The two selections give Chelle an opportunity to assess both his strongest competitive squad and a wider pool of players ahead of Nigeria's upcoming international assignments. The AFCON qualifiers carry competitive importance as Nigeria begin their Group L campaign, while the Russia fixture will allow the coach to examine additional options. Nigeria's qualifying group also contains Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the 2027 tournament as one of the co-hosts.