Eric Chelle has named a 24-man Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with captain Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi among the headline names.
Nigeria will begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau for a meeting with the Wild Dogs four days later.
Chelle has retained several of the players who form the established core of his squad, including goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defender Semi Ajayi, midfielders Ndidi, Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, as well as forwards Osimhen, Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Tolu Arokodare.
The selection also contains several decisions that could shape the next phase of Chelle’s Super Eagles project.
Arthur Okonkwo returns after making an impression during the Unity Cup, where he kept clean sheets in Nigeria’s victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica. He joins Nwabali and Maduka Okoye in a three-man goalkeeping group, setting up another contest for the starting position.
readmore: Burna Boy to headline halftime show at historic 2026 NFL Paris game
There are also returns for Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Fredricks, while Chibuike Nwaiwu remains involved after his emergence during the Unity Cup.
Chelle has also opened the door to three players receiving their first senior call-ups. Portugal-based defender Isaac James joins the squad after previously featuring prominently in the coach’s plans for the Russia friendly, while forwards George Ilhenikhena and Moses Usor have also been invited for the first time.
The presence of Ilhenikhena is particularly notable as Chelle continues to expand his options in attack, while Osimhen remains the central figure in a forward line that also includes Simon, Lookman, Chukwueze, Akor Adams and Arokodare.
The squad therefore combines established Super Eagles figures with players Chelle is still assessing as he looks to build depth across the team.
The AFCON race begins in Uyo
The Super Eagles are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania, with Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the 2027 tournament as one of the co-hosts. That leaves Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau fighting for the additional qualification place from the group.
Chelle’s team therefore cannot afford a slow start when Madagascar arrive in Uyo.
The second assignment comes quickly, with Nigeria travelling to Bissau on September 29 to face Guinea-Bissau. The two matches will give Chelle his first competitive opportunity to establish the shape of his team for the AFCON campaign after Nigeria missed out on the 2026 World Cup.
The coach’s selection also continues several individual storylines that have developed over recent weeks.
Okonkwo’s inclusion gives Chelle another option between the posts after his impressive Unity Cup introduction, while the continued presence of Arokodare and Adams strengthens the attacking depth around Osimhen.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
Iheanacho, however, is not part of the AFCON squad despite his prolific opening spell at Bursaspor, where he had made a strong start to his first season in Turkey’s second tier.
That decision is particularly interesting given Chelle’s previous familiarity with the forward and the questions surrounding Nigeria’s attacking depth earlier in the month. at the moment the focus shifts firmly to Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
24 Super Eagles for AFCON 2027 qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa).
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Isaac James (Alverca, Portugal); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers, Scotland); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Frank Onyeka (Coventry City, England).
Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands); George Ilhenikhena (Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia); Moses Usor (LASK, Austria).
Pingback: Chelle turns Russia friendly into Super Eagles audition with 14 fresh faces - The Athletic NG