Eric Chelle is rebuilding, and the March friendlies against Iran and Jordan in Amman are exactly the kind of window to start handing debuts to players who’ve been waiting for the call, Footynaija.com reports.
With the 2027 AFCON already the next big target, here are five players who’ve never worn the green and white at senior level but absolutely should.
5. Hafiz Ibrahim | Stade de Reims | 20
The Kano-born forward turned down a serious approach from Chelsea to stay at Reims and develop properly, with Raheem Sterling reportedly making a personal call to try to convince him.
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He has not been capped by Nigeria at any level, senior or youth, which makes this almost strange given what he’s been doing in France. He’s 20, scoring in cup semi-finals and thriving in Ligue 2 after Reims’ relegation from the top flight. The NFF should at minimum have this name circled.
4. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro | Pisa (loan from Inter Milan) | 21
The Lagos-born midfielder caught European eyes at Remo Stars before Inter paid for him in January 2023, and he’s now getting proper minutes on loan at Pisa in Serie A.
He got into a Nigeria squad last year but didn’t play. Chelle should be making sure the next time he travels, he actually features.
At 21, technically sharp and already playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues, his timeline is now. Leave it too long and the decision might get made for him.
3. Tim Iroegbunam | Everton | 22
The Everton midfielder has been on people’s radar for a while, but he’s never been called up by Nigeria and hasn’t been capped at senior level for anyone. Sources close to him have said publicly that he’d say yes immediately if the NFF asked.
He won the UEFA U19 Championship with England in 2022 but that doesn’t cap-tie him at senior level, which means the window is still open.
He’s been one of Everton’s more consistent performers this season, and his ability to cover ground and link play makes him exactly the kind of energetic midfielder Nigeria’s engine room could use.
2. Emmanuel Fernandez | Rangers | 24
Born in London to a Nigerian father, the centre-back has had one of the more remarkable rise stories in British football this past year. He joined Rangers from Peterborough United last summer for around £3.9 million and has since scored four goals in 17 league games, won Rangers’ Player of the Month for January, and drawn serious transfer interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
He’s already told Chelle he wants to play for Nigeria, he’s applying for his Nigerian passport, and he wears the number 37 in honour of his late brother. He’s the kind of character and talent Chelle should be rushing to get on the plane.
1. Arthur Okonkwo | Wrexham | 24
The former Arsenal goalkeeper has been cleared to represent Nigeria after committing to the switch during a conversation with Chelle at last summer’s Unity Cup in London.
Other than that, he’s made 35 league appearances for Wrexham this season, kept nine clean sheets, and helped a club that’s risen three divisions in four years to sit sixth in the Championship. Stanley Nwabali is without a club. Chelle needs a goalkeeper. This one shouldn’t need a second thought.
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