Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named his squads for Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, as well as the October international friendly against Russia, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles will begin their AFCON campaign against Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later. Chelle has then selected a different group for the October 6 friendly against Russia, giving the coach room to look at players outside his regular competitive squad.
Nigeria will need to deal with a busy stretch of international football after missing the 2026 World Cup, with Chelle now beginning the process of building another team for the next major tournament.
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The AFCON squad contains most of the established names expected in the Super Eagles setup, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen’s inclusion is notable because the Galatasaray striker has only recently returned from the groin injury that forced him off against Istanbul Basaksehir earlier this month. He has already missed several matches for his club and was expected to miss Nigeria’s opening qualifiers.
His name remains on Chelle’s list, however, although his complete fitness will ultimately determine whether he can join the squad.
Adams, Arokodare lead the attacking options
Akor Adams is also included after making a decent start to his first season with Venezia. The 26-year-old has scored twice and provided an assist in five appearances since joining the Italian club from Sevilla.
The Benue-born striker scored twice at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and has six goals in 15 appearances for Nigeria, giving him one of the stronger international records among the available strikers.
Tolu Arokodare is another forward whose selection comes at an interesting time. The Ajax striker has started his loan spell in the Netherlands strongly and had five goals and two assists in his first seven appearances for the club. His current form has already put pressure on Chelle to give him a bigger role in the national team.
The Russia squad, meanwhile, contains several less familiar names.
Chelle has included Chibuzor Atata and Samuel James among the goalkeepers, while Kenneth Igboke, Isaac James, Emmanuel Fernandez, Victory Akpe and Abdullahi Bewane are among the defenders.
The midfield list contains Chibuzo Nwoko, Fumen Michael, Georges Wilfred, Popoola Abdulrasaq, Suleiman Mubarak and Jacob Adeoye, alongside Raphael Onyedika.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Peter Edokpolor, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Umar Abubakar and Abdullahi Umar make up the listed forwards.
The separation between the two groups fits Chelle’s wider approach to the October friendly. Reports had indicated that the Russia game would provide an opportunity to assess younger players who could form part of Nigeria’s future Olympic setup.
There are also some notable omissions from the AFCON group. Paul Onuachu is absent after his injury, while Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho are not part of the competitive squad. Iheanacho, however, appears in the Russia selection.
AFCON squad:
Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina.
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka.
Forwards: Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Akor Adams, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena, Moses Usor.
Russia friendly squad
Goalkeepers: Chibuzor Atata, Samuel James, Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Kenneth Igboke, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Victory Akpe, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Abdullahi Bewane.
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Chibuzo Nwoko, Fumen Michael, Georges Wilfred, Popoola Abdulrasaq, Suleiman Mubarak, Jacob Adeoye, Raphael Onyedika, Ria Foo.
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho, Peter Edokpolor, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Umar Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar.
