Nigeria's Super Eagles have finalized a 24-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 CAF play-offs in Morocco. Coach Eric Chelle included key returns like Maduka Okoye and Chidera Ejuke as the team prepares to face Gabon in the semi-final. The squad blends experience and youth in their bid for a World Cup spot.
Nigeria announced their 24-man squad on Saturday for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 CAF play-offs in Rabat, Morocco. Head coach Eric Chelle selected the ensemble following the team's strong qualifying campaign, where they finished second in their group behind South Africa after wins over Lesotho and Benin, securing a play-off spot as one of the best runners-up.
The Super Eagles will face Gabon in the first semi-final on Thursday at the 22,000-capacity Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat. A win would advance them to the final on November 16 against either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same venue, or possibly the 18,000-capacity El-Barid Stadium. The play-off winner will enter an inter-continental playoff series in March for a chance at the North American finals.
Chelle made tweaks to the previous squad, recalling Italian-based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielder Raphael Onyedika, and forward Chidera Ejuke. Excluded from the last call-up were Felix Agu, Terem Moffi, and Christantus Uche. Defender Semi Ajayi will miss the Gabon match due to a one-game suspension from two yellow cards in qualifying.
Players are set to converge in Rabat on November 10. Nigeria enters as the top-ranked team among the four play-off participants.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)
Forwards: Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Olakunle Olusegun (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France)
