SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has included Victor Osimhen in his squad of 23 players for the key 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic next week.
Galatasaray striker Osimhen limped off on Tuesday night after scoring the only goal in his side’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Liverpool, and there were doubts about his availability for the World Cup qualifiers.
He also missed the Super Eagles’ trip to South Africa in September after sustaining an injury in the fixture against Rwanda days earlier in Uyo.
Chelle also invited a number of regular Super Eagles stars, including captain William Troost-Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as forwards Ademola Lookman and Simon Moses.
Central defender Semi Ajayi, who missed the last two Super Eagles matches in September due to injury, has been recalled, along with France-based Terem Moffi and former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays in Russia.
Full-back Ola Aina is not available after the Nottingham Forest star sustained an injury during the qualifiers in September.
The Super Eagles, now in third place and three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, are away to Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa next Friday, before wrapping up the campaign with a home clash against Benin Republic four days later in Uyo.
The Super Eagles players are scheduled to head straight to South Africa from their different bases in Europe and elsewhere from Monday, according to the Nigeria Football Federation.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); 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)
Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)