Nigeria announce provisional squad for March international break; Ahmed Musa returns

The Super Eagles will face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.

Coach Eric Chelle announced an expanded 39-man preliminary squad for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe this month. The chosen squad is marking the comeback of captain Ahmed Musa to the team for the first time since February 2024.

Before reducing that squad to a final 23-man squad, Chelle, who took over in January, will have a chance to examine the players at his disposal.

Chelle will oversee a number of returnees, including Musa, who last played for Nigeria in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Jordan Torunarigha, Joe Aribo, Kayode Bankole, Nathan Tella, Zaidu Sanusi, and Cyriel Dessers are among the others.

Nigeria are at present in fifth place in Group C, far behind South Africa, Rwanda, Lesotho, and the Benin Republic. Chelle’s job depends on the Super Eagles’ performance in the upcoming weeks as they fight for their chance to qualify for the World Cup.

If the three-time African winners Nigeria want to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America, they must prevail in both of these matches, which begin on March 21 away to Rwanda, the group leaders, and four days later at home against Zimbabwe.

Nigeria provisional squad for World Cup qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars).

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes).

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain).

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