Éric Chelle has named 24 players for the Super Eagles’ two-legged 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania, leaving out Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye in a list that carries one first-time call-up and several returnees.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released the squad on Saturday, November 7, through the Super Eagles’ official channels. It arrives at an awkward moment for the Malian coach. Nigeria lost 3-0 in Bissau in September, and the Tanzania double-header is now the best chance to put the qualifying campaign back on track.
Éric Chelle’s Super Eagles squad for Tanzania in full
Captain Wilfred Ndidi leads a group built around Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon. Here is the full list, with clubs.
Goalkeepers (3)
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus)
Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England)
Defenders (8)
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece)
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford, England)
Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England)
Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England)
Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava, Czechia)
Midfielders (7)
Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey)
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England)
Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)
Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille, France)
Samson Tijani (FK Podbrezova, Slovakia)
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy)
Mubarak Suleiman (Slavia Prague, Czechia)
Forwards (6)
Moses Simon (Paris FC, France)
Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, England)
Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy)
Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands)
Moses Usor (LASK, Austria)
A couple of outlets have described this as a 25-man group, but the published list contains 24 names.
Who is back, and who is new
The only player in line for a senior debut is Slavia Prague midfielder Mubarak Suleiman, who receives his first Super Eagles invitation.
Four players return to the fold. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is back after a spell away, while Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Tochukwu Nnadi are recalled after injury setbacks. Yusuf and Dele-Bashiru in particular give Chelle more bodies in central midfield, which matters with two games in five days.
In attack, Tolu Arokodare and Moses Usor have earned their places on recent form. Arokodare comes in on the back of a brace for Ajax, and Usor is reported to have made his case with a Champions League assist for LASK.
The omissions everyone is talking about
Maduka Okoye. The Udinese goalkeeper was in Nigeria’s September squad but misses out this time. His club season has been rough. Udinese lost 2-1 at Akor Adams’ Venezia on Friday, their eighth league defeat in nine games, which left them bottom of Serie A. Okoye also shipped five goals in a 5-2 loss to Roma on October 31. Chelle had to explain Okoye’s late arrival to the September camp, after the player attended a club kit launch in Milan, though the coach has not publicly tied this decision to either episode.
Kelechi Iheanacho. This is the one that will cause the most debate. The Bursaspor striker has 17 league goals in Turkey this season and scored in Nigeria’s 3-3 friendly draw with Russia in October. He was in the separate group picked for that friendly, but not in the competitive squad. With Osimhen also missing, Nigeria’s attack for Tanzania is made up of just six forwards, and some supporters will ask why a scoring striker was left at home.
Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray forward is absent again. Reports said he missed the September qualifiers with an adductor and groin problem, and the squad announcement itself came with no stated reason for his exclusion this time.
Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika. Both midfielders have been regular names under Chelle and both are dropped, which opens the door for Nnadi, Yusuf, Tijani and Suleiman.
Others. Samuel Chukwueze is reported to be recovering from hip surgery, and striker George Ilenikhena, who scored on his Super Eagles debut, also misses the cut.
Fixtures: when and where Nigeria face Tanzania
Friday, November 13: Nigeria vs Tanzania, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo
Tuesday, November 17: Tanzania vs Nigeria, Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, coached by Miguel Gamondi, are due in Uyo on Sunday, November 8, which gives them almost a week to adjust to the Akwa Ibom weather. Many of Chelle’s Europe-based players will only join camp after weekend club games, so his preparation time will be short.
Why the Tanzania games matter so much
The situation in Group L is unusual. Tanzania are one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 tournament, alongside Kenya and Uganda, so they have already secured their place. That leaves only one qualifying spot, and Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar are fighting for it.
Nigeria opened the campaign with a 2-1 win over Madagascar after going behind early. Four days later came the heavy 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau lead the group on six points from two games, with Nigeria second on three and Madagascar on one after a 1-1 draw with Tanzania.
The calendar is also against Chelle. Two more rounds follow in March 2027, and a slip against a Tanzania side with nothing to lose would make the arithmetic uncomfortable. Chelle has said he wants the team to handle the pressure and build momentum, and six points from this pair of matches is the realistic target.
There is a further complication. Chelle also coaches Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles, who face DR Congo in qualifiers on the same dates, in Lubumbashi and Ikenne. How he splits his attention will be watched closely.
What to expect from the Super Eagles
With Osimhen out, the goals have to come from Lookman, Simon, Adams, Awoniyi, Arokodare and Usor, backed by Iwobi’s creativity and Ndidi’s control in front of a defence led by Bassey and Ajayi. The back line has a fresher look, with Nwaiwu, Bewene and Fredricks all in the mix for the chance to prove they belong.
Chelle has backed a blend of experience and new faces. Whether that gamble pays off will be clear within a week, because the results in Uyo and Zanzibar will decide whether Nigeria stay in the race for the one AFCON ticket on offer.
