Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is expected to cut his provisional 39-man Super Eagles squad down to a final 23-man list before Nigeria head into their must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month, Footynaija.com reports.
The games, set to go down on March 19 and March 22, could potentially define the Franco-Malian manager’s tenure as Nigeria national team coach. Nigeria have endured a slow start to the qualifying campaign with no wins in four games. They must secure victory against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in order to get their qualifying campaign back on track.
Chelle’s provisional list is made up of a few home-based players as well as players who ply their trades in Europe. First timers like Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Igoh Ogbu and Anthony Dennis have been given a chance to break into the national team setup while veteran forward Ahmed also earned a recall.
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Here are five things to watch out for as Chelle ponders on the best 23 players to help him get Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign back on track.
Surprise inclusions
Eric Chelle has already caused quite a bit of surprise with the bulkiness of his provisional squad which saw both injured and out-of-form stars also make the cut.
The Super Eagles boss could well continue with his trend of surprises by picking the relatively unknown Anthony Dennis as part of his midfield setup at the expense of more established national team stars like Frank Onyeka or Rapheal Onyedika.
We may also get to see one or more of the three NPFL stars included in the provisional squad make the final 23-man list ahead of their more experienced Europe-based compatriots.
Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye and who?
Alongside Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa) and Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Eric Chelle also named Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania), Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Neon Paralimni, Cyprus) and Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria) in his provisional squad.
However, judging from previous squads, we expect just three of the five goalkeepers to be included in the final 23-man squad. With Nwabali and Okoye almost certain to make the cut, Obasogie, Adebayo and Bankole will have to battle for the last spot.
Obasogie was involved in the last squad that faced Benin and Rwanda in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November and his previous experience may hand him the edge over his competitors. Despite this, Adebayo and Bankole will also be in the running.
A new face at the heart of defence
Eric Chelle has shown his willingness to make big calls after leaving veteran Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun out of his provisional squad, opting instead to invite young and relatively inexperienced Slavia Prague center-back Igoh Ogbu.
Based on his performances for the Czech Republic based club this term, expect Ogbu to make Chelle’s 23-man list and potentially hold down a starting XI spot depending on how the Super Eagles will be set up.
Chelle’s Midfield composition
In recent times, the Super Eagles have been found wanting in the middle of the park as they have been shockingly porous despite the calibre of midfielders on their roster.
With players like Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Abdullahi Alhassan available for selection, Nigeria is stacked in that department and finding a solution to their midfield issues will largely depend on how these stars are deployed.
A solid midfield combination can provide a great platform to go on and win matches but Chelle will have to carefully consider his midfield composition to ensure a balance between solidity and creativity.
Which attackers will make the cut
Nigeria boasts arguably the greatest depth of attacking talents in Africa with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Umar Sadiq, Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers all tearing it up in Europe ahead of the international break.
Other very capable stars like Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke are also in the running for a spot in the Super Eagles attack. With the majority of these players fit for selection, Chelle’s current headache will be how to optimally utilize the attacking talents at his disposal.
While the likes of Osimhen and Lookman are a must-have in the Super Eagles attack, the other available options will require a long and careful consideration by Chelle before he finalizes his 23-man list.
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