Nigeria’s road back to the Africa Cup of Nations begins in earnest this week, and head coach Éric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for the country’s opening two Group L fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The list, released on Thursday by the Nigeria Football Federation, gives Nigerians their first real look at how the Super Eagles boss plans to rebuild momentum after a bruising few years without a major trophy.
The two AFCON qualifiers are scheduled for September 25 against Madagascar and September 29 against Guinea-Bissau, with an international friendly against Russia following on October 6. Nigeria will host Madagascar in Uyo before travelling for the Guinea-Bissau fixture, a route that mirrors the format the Eagles have followed in recent qualifying windows.
Full Super Eagles Squad List for the AFCON Qualifiers
Goalkeepers:
- Arthur Okonkwo
- Maduka Okoye
- Stanley Nwabali
Defenders:
- Bruno Onyemaechi
- Calvin Bassey
- Olaoluwa Aina
- Bright Osayi-Samuel
- Semi Ajayi
- Isaac James
Midfielders:
- Wilfred Ndidi (Captain)
- Alex Iwobi
- Frank Onyeka
- Raphael Onyedika
Forwards:
- Victor Osimhen
- Ademola Lookman
- Samuel Chukwueze
- Moses Simon
- Tolu Arokodare
- Akor Adams
- George Ilenikhena
- Moses Usor
Ndidi Retains the Armband
Wilfred Ndidi continues as captain, with Alex Iwobi expected to be one of the senior voices in a group that blends Premier League experience with a handful of fresh faces. In goal, Chelle has three credible options after Nwabali’s return to the fold. Portugal-based Isaac James earns his first senior call-up, a reward for a consistent run of club form that has caught Chelle’s attention in recent months.
The midfield pairs experience with graft. Ndidi lines up alongside Iwobi, Onyeka and Onyedika, a combination that should give the Eagles both steel and creativity in the middle of the park.
Osimhen Included Despite Injury Scare
The headline name on the sheet remains Victor Osimhen, and his inclusion did not come without drama. The Galatasaray striker was injured during his club’s 3-2 win over Başakşehir on September 4, sparking real doubt over his availability. Chelle consulted Galatasaray’s medical staff before deciding to include him, and the striker’s fitness will be closely monitored in the build-up to the Madagascar game. It is a calculated gamble from a coach who knows exactly how much Osimhen’s goals matter to this team.
He will not be short of company up front. Lookman, Chukwueze, Simon and Arokodare round out the familiar attacking options, while the squad also hands debut senior opportunities to George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor. That inclusion of young attacking talent suggests Chelle is not afraid to blood fresh faces even in a must-win qualifying window.
Not everyone made the trip. Femi Azeez was left out to continue recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on August 15 while playing for Millwall, with his return expected once he is fully fit, and Alhassan Yusuf misses out through a hamstring problem of his own. Both absences are precautionary rather than a reflection of standing in the squad, and both players should be back in contention once fitness allows.
A Tricky Group with an Unusual Twist
Nigeria sit in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania. The group carries an unusual quirk this cycle. Because Tanzania already hold an automatic finals place as tournament co-hosts, the highest-ranked side among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will take the group’s available qualifying spot. In practical terms, that turns every point in the group into a straight shootout between three teams rather than the usual four-way race, and it puts extra weight on Nigeria’s opening fixtures.
There is context behind the urgency too. The squad announcement comes as Nigeria begin a new qualifying campaign after finishing third at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, where the Eagles beat Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-final courtesy of goals from Osimhen and Adams. A podium finish raised expectations rather than lowered them, and Chelle knows a slow start to qualifying would sour the goodwill built in Morocco.
Separate List for the Russia Friendly
Chelle is not simply recycling one squad across all three matches. He has named a separate 24-man group for the October 6 friendly against Russia, with call-ups including Benjamin Fredricks alongside Ilenikhena and Usor across the two lists. Kelechi Iheanacho has been recalled specifically for the Russia game, giving the experienced forward a route back into the fold outside the pressure of a competitive qualifier. Scheduling the friendly exactly a week after the Guinea-Bissau match gives Chelle room to assess a wider pool of players without disrupting his first-choice group during the qualifiers themselves.
For now, all eyes turn to Uyo on September 25. A strong start against Madagascar would settle nerves quickly and put Nigeria in control of a group where every fixture looks set to matter.
