WCQ: Chelle Drops Musa, Iheanacho, Lists 23 For Rwanda, Zimbabwe
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were notably absent as head coach Eric Chelle unveiled his final 23-man squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
On Tuesday, Coach Chelle announced his selection ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. Last week, he had revealed an expanded provisional squad of 39 players, from which the final list was drawn.
These matches will mark Coach Chelle’s debut in charge of the three-time African champions. The squad features a blend of experienced players and fresh faces, with a total of three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards.
Here is the full squad list:
Goalkeepers: Amas Obasogie, Kayode Bankole, Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Igoh Ogbu, William Troost-Ekong.
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf, Joe Aribo, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Raphael Onyedika, Wilfred Ndidi.
Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Sadiq Umar, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen.
