2026 WCQ: Ahmed Musa, 38 Others Make Chelle's Provisional Squad For Rwanda, Zimbabwe

2026 WCQ: Ahmed Musa, 38 Others Make Chelle's Provisional Squad For Rwanda, Zimbabwe 

Sampson Adedeji

Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Sékou Chelle, has unveiled a 39-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The list includes goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Simon Moses.

Other notable names in the squad are goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, as well as forwards Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, and Sadiq Umar.

First-time call-ups include defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche, and Papa Daniel Mustapha, along with forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defender Jordan Torunarigha, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella could make a return if selected in the final 23-man squad.

Currently sitting fifth in Group C behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and Lesotho, Nigeria will face group leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21, before hosting Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo four days later.

Nigeria’s Provisional 39-Man Squad for Rwanda, Zimbabwe

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa) Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy) Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania) Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus) Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia) Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey) Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece) Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France) Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England) Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England) Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal) Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic) Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium) Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England) Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium) Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA) Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy) Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany) Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England) Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey) Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain) Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy) Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey) Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy) Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England) Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France) Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain) Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland) Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium) Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain) Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England) Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars) Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)

The final squad of 23 players is expected to be announced in the coming days.