Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for the opening matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, 2026, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29. The two fixtures are Matchdays 1 and 2 in Group L of the qualifying campaign. Captain Wilfred Ndidi leads the selection alongside established senior players.
The squad is spread across four departments. Goalkeepers are Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali. Defenders include Bruno Onyemaechi, Isaac James, Benjamin Fredrick, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Olaoluwa Aina.
Midfielders are Alexander Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi and Rapheal Onyedika. Forwards are Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Victor Osimhen, Tolu Arokodare, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor. The list features returns for Aina, Fredrick and Nwabali after injury layoffs, while James, Ilenikhena, Okonkwo and Usor earn first senior call-ups.
Nigeria are drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-host Tanzania for the 2027 qualifiers, which run from September 2026 to March 2027. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
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