SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has finally released his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-offs, with key stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi all available and included.
There is also a spot for Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who only returned to action in Serie A recently after serving a ban for betting-related offences.
The squad list was released today, just five days before the Super Eagles face Gabon in Rabat, Morocco in the first semi-final of the four-team play-offs.
Captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, as well as defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey have also been included in the Super Eagles’ 24-man squad for the play-offs.
Other players in the squad include young defender Benjamin Fredericks, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon.
The Super Eagles will battle Gabon in the first semi-final at the 22,000-capacity Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat on Thursday, with Cameroon facing the Democratic Republic of Congo in the other semi-final at the 18,000-capacity El-Barid Stadium, also in Rabat, later on the same day.
The semi-final winners will meet in the final on Sunday, November 16, with the sole ticket to the intercontinental play-offs at stake.
Chelle has also recalled Sevilla forward Chidera Ejuke, with midfielder Raphael Onyedika and forwards Tolu Arokodare, Jerome Akor Adams and Olusegun Olakunle also in the squad.
Hull City defender Semi Ajayi, suspended for one game after accumulating two yellow cards in the 10-match qualifying campaign, will miss the clash with the Panthers on Thursday.
The players are scheduled report to camp in Morocco from their different bases in Europe and elsewhere on Monday, the Nigeria Football Federation said.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP AFRICA PLAY-OFFS
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese FC, Italy)
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); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); 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); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)