2026 WCQ: CHELLE NAMES OSIMHEN, IWOBI, OTHERS FOR LESOTHO, BENIN MATCHES [FULL LIST]
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By Sunmisola Shodayo
The head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has announced the inclusion of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen and Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi in his 23-player roster for the vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and the Benin Republic.
Osimhen was absent from the Super Eagles’ 1-1 stalemate with South Africa last month as he had to exit during the first half of the 1-0 victory against Rwanda in Uyo, just days prior to that encounter.
With two matches remaining in the African qualifiers, Nigeria currently occupies third place in Group C with 11 points, three points behind both the Benin Republic and South Africa. The Super Eagles received a reprieve after FIFA imposed a three-point deduction on South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in a match against Lesotho on March 21, 2025, which Bafana Bafana initially won 2-0.
Also included in the squad are captain William Troost-Ekong, Tolu Arokodare, and Ademola Lookman. The roster sees the return of the quartet consisting of Terem Moffi, Semi Ajayi, Alhassan Yusuf, and Olakunle Olusegun, while Sevilla forward Akor Adams has received his first call-up.
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Full List
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo 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); Simon Moses (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)
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