Osimhen in, Okoye returns, Olawoyin debuts: Predicting Finidi’s Super Eagles 26-man squad for South Africa, Benin

Early in June, Nigeria will trade tackles with South Africa and the Benin Republic in matchdays three and four of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will be all out for victory against the Bafana Bafana and the Squirrels, having dropped crucial points against Lesotho and Zimbabwe last year.

Head coach Finidi George will be expected to submit the list of players he would need to prosecute these important games in the next few days.

In this piece, however, Soccernet.ng‘s Imhons Erons looks to flash the light on the players who have been excellent in recent weeks for their clubs and could get the job done for Nigeria.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye

Finidi was in the Jose Peseiro-led coaching crew that decided on making Stanley Nwabali Nigeria’s first choice at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

After seeing how impressive Nwabali was at the AFCON, Finidi would likely continue with the Chippa United goalie.

Maduka Okoye has been out of the Super Eagles for a while, even missing the AFCON.

But the Udinese goalkeeper is Nigeria’s only shot-stopper playing regularly for a club in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Okoye has been a consistent and impressive feature for Udinese in Serie A, and it is about time he is welcomed back into the national fold.

Francis Uzoho remains a competent backup for the Super Eagles.

Defenders (full-backs): Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ola Aina, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi

Zaidu Sanusi is still injured, leaving Finidi with the choice of Jamilu Collins and Bruno Onyemaechi at left-back.

This is also an area where Finidi can show his grasp of talents in the local scene, with an exciting NPFL left-back capable of forcing his way to recognition.

Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel can continue to push themselves for the right-back role until Tyronne Ebuehi returns from injury.

Centre-backs: Gabriel Osho, Tanimu Benjamin, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi

With William Troost-Ekong out injured, the experience of Semi Ajayi and Kenneth Omeruo cannot be underestimated.

Calvin Bassey is one of Peseiro’s best gifts to Nigeria at centre-back, and the Fulham man should be one of the first names on the team list.

Finidi invited Gabriel Osho for the friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March, but an injury forced out the Luton Town star.

He is back from the sidelines and has made a couple of appearances in the Premier League, which is enough reason for Finidi to eye him again.

Finidi gave Tanimu Benjamin his Super Eagles bow against Ghana, with the former Bendel Insurance man doing enough to merit another call.

Chidozie Awaziem can sit this one out after his blunder against Mali, while there will be more opportunities for Gent’s Jordan Torunarigha and Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu.

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Ibrahim Olawoyin, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Ikenna Cooper

After an excellent AFCON, there is no way any coach is overlooking Brentford’s Frank Onyeka.

Wilfred Ndidi has just won the Championship with Leicester, while Raphael Onyedika’s Club Brugge are also closing on the league title in Belgium.

Both players have been prominent in their clubs’ successes and will look to transfer their form to the national team.

Ndidi’s presence, however, means that Royal Antwerp dynamo Alhassan Yusuf misses out.

Further upfield, Fulham ace Alex Iwobi remains Nigeria’s number-one creative engine.

The Super Eagles are still short of quality options in the centre of the pack, and it is a void Rizespor’s Ibrahim Olawoyin can fill with excellence.

He’s Nigeria’s best player in Turkey after Paul Onuachu and has been a delight to watch in the Super Lig all season.

On the home front, Finidi knows Ikenna Cooper like the back of his hands, as the midfielder was a key cog in Enyimba’s drive to the NPFL title last season.

He has been a constant feature this term as well, and he looks ready to step up to the Super Eagles.

Wingers: Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella, Chuba Akpom

Against Ghana and Mali, Finidi deployed a setup that gave little room to wing-play, but the new coach knows that cannot be a long-term strategy with excellent options available.

Samuel Chukwueze has been excellent for AC Milan in recent weeks, while Ademola Lookman and his goals are some of the reasons Atalanta are flying in Serie A.

Nathan Tella made key contributions to Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga win, and a good coach should find ways to get the best out of the former Burnley winger.

With Moses Simon not expected to return for this game, Chidera Ejuke and Chuba Akpom present attacking options for Finidi.

However, Akpom has been a super-sub for Ajax Amsterdam, and he could be a wild card from the bench against the South Africans.

Strikers: Cyriel Dessers, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Suleiman Sani

Victor Osimhen remains Nigeria’s number-one tool for tormenting opposition defences, and thankfully, the Napoli striker is ending the season in majestic form.

Victor Boniface was not at the AFCON, but he returned in style to power Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title – the club’s first in history.

Paul Onuachu is doing remarkable things for Trabzonspor in Turkey, but expect Finidi to call Kelechi Iheanacho instead.

Iheanacho did not feature much for Leicester City after the AFCON, but his quality is not in doubt.

Cyriel Dessers is one of the highest-scoring Nigerian strikers in Europe at the moment, and he must have warmed his way into Finidi’s heart with his good showing against the Black Stars.

🚨Side stepping one, side stepping two and poking it in🔥

Akwa Utd’s Suleiman Sani ran the Sporting Lagos defence but not enough for 3pts on the island. #NPFL24 pic.twitter.com/0UzDBGib8s

— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) February 28, 2024

Suleiman Sani has delivered several eye-catching displays for Akwa United in the NPFL, and his six goals in his last eight games make him a compelling option for Finidi’s squad.

NB: Which player would you like to see make the Super Eagles squad for South Africa, and  Benin Republic qualifiers? Leave your comments below.