Nigeria vs Rwanda, South Africa: Super Eagles squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

The Super Eagles’ technical crew has unveiled a 31-man provisional squad as Nigeria prepares for crucial September fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The list, released on Friday, features a blend of established stars, returning faces, and fresh call-ups as the national team looks to assert dominance in Group C.

Leading the forward line is the talismanic Victor Osimhen, recently on the books of Galatasaray in Turkey, alongside red-hot Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface and Atalanta’s Europa League hero, Ademola Lookman. The attacking options are further bolstered by Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers, and Samuel Chukwueze, offering the Super Eagles an array of firepower against two formidable African rivals.

In midfield, the familiar duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi return to add stability and creativity, while Brentford’s Frank Onyeka and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika bring energy and balance. Notably, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, now playing in the United States with New England Revolution, and Getafe’s Christantus Uche are among the new faces eager to stake their claim.

The defensive line combines experience and youth, with William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Ola Aina joined by exciting inclusions such as Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu and Belgium-based Benjamin Fredericks. The squad also features the versatile Bright Osayi-Samuel and Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu, highlighting the technical crew’s push for depth across positions.

Between the posts, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali maintains his position as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, with competition from Adebayo Adeleye, Amas Obasogie, and newcomer Ebenezer Harcourt of Sporting FC.

The provisional squad reflects a careful mix of Europe-based stars and emerging talents from across Africa and beyond, as Nigeria seeks to make a strong statement in September’s double-header. The matches against Rwanda and South Africa are seen as pivotal in the Super Eagles’ qualification journey, with fans eager to see if the team can translate individual brilliance into collective success under the current technical setup.

The final list is expected to be trimmed ahead of camp resumption, but the 31-man roster underscores Nigeria’s vast talent pool and the fierce competition for national team jerseys. All eyes will now be on how the squad gels in the build-up to two defining fixtures on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Eric Chelle’s 31-man provisional list for September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa.#SoarSuperEagles #Naija4theWin pic.twitter.com/kqbsVu5z1i

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) August 22, 2025

Here is the full list of the players called by the Super Eagles’ technical team.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Adams Akor (Sevilla FC, Spain)