Nigeria Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has named his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier vs Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
The list of invited players was published on the Nigeria Football Federation X handle on Thursday, November 10, 2023.
On the list, Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella gets a maiden call-up and is the only new name on the list.
Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Wilfred Ndidi are notable abscentees on the list while skipper Ahmed Musa misses for a third consecutive international break.
Jamilu Collins makes a return after a long layoff due to injury while Spain based forward, Sadiq Umar is preferred to red-hot M0ntpellier striker, Akor Adams.
The Super Eagles will kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a match against Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, followed by an away clash against Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare on Sunday, November 19.
The Huye Stadium, located in Butare, Rwanda, has been chosen as Zimbabwe’s home venue for the qualifiers, as no stadium in Zimbabwe met the criteria for hosting FIFA World Cup qualifying games.
FULL List of Invited Players:
Goalkeepers:
1. Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
2. Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
3. Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio, Italy)
Defenders:
1. Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
2. Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal)
3. Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
4. Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
5. Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)
6. Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
7. Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
8. Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales)
Midfielders:
1. Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
2. Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England)
3. Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)
4. Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
1. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
2. Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
3. Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
4. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
5. Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
6. Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
7. Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)
8. Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
