Nigeria name formidable squad for World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa

The Super Eagles will host Rwanda on 7 September at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium before traveling to take on Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on 9 September.

Nigeria are currently fourth in the standings after six matches in Group C, with South Africa topping the standings following a haul of 13 points with four matches remaining.

Only the top team in the group will qualify directly for the 2026 global tournament that will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.

With the crucial nature of the fixtures, Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has called up all his big guns with Osimhen and Lookman joined in the squad by captain William Ekong and South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, both at English Premier League club Fulham, will also be in the group alongside Ola Aina and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

Nigeria provisional squad:

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)

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