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2026 WCQ: Chelle names 23 players for Lesotho, Benin matches [Full list]

The head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has invited 23 players ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic.


Nigeria are hanging on to the faintest hope of qualification, thanks to FIFA deducting three points and three goals from South Africa.

This verdict leaves Chelle’s men in third place in the group with 11 points, now three points behind Benin Republic and South Africa.

Captain William Troost-Ekong has been called up despite his own goal in the 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana the last time out.

There is a return for the quartet of Terem Moffi, Semi Ajayi, Alhassan Yusuf and Olakunle Olusegun.

Akor Adams gets his first Nigeria call-up and is in line for his debut.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/10/03/2026-wcq-chelle-names-23-players-for-lesotho-benin-matches-full-list/

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Captain William Troost-Ekong headlines the team, while Semi Ajayi, Terem Moffi, Alhassan Yusuf and Olakunle Olusegun all return after spells away from the national side.

Stanley Nwabali retains his place as first-choice goalkeeper, supported by Amas Obasogie and Adebayo Adeleye, while Felix Agu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi, Benjamin Fredrick, and Calvin Bassey are drafted into defence.

In midfield, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alhassan Yusuf provide Chelle with both experience and energy.


Nigeria’s forward line is led by Victor Osimhen and also features Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers, Tolu Arokodare, the returning Olakunle Olusegun and debutant Adams.



Goal Keepers

Stanley Nwabali
Amas Obasogie and
Adebayo Adeleye,

Defenders

Felix Agu,
Bruno Onyemaechi,
Bright Osayi,
Benjamin Fredrick, and
Calvin Bassey

midfield,
Alex Iwobi,
Wilfred Ndidi,
Frank Onyeka and
Alhassan Yusuf


Attackers
Victor Osimhen
Ademola Lookman,
Moses Simon,
Samuel Chukwueze,
Terem Moffi,
Cyriel Dessers,
Tolu Arokodare,
Olakunle Olusegun
Adams.

I wish them all good luck in their next games xxxxx

Let’s see if magic can make us qualify for the World Cup🌚

Nawa ooo I no even know wetin to type this 40 characters no Dey help at all oo!!

Chukwueze and Dessers, me I don't know what they're doing in the match ooo. Make Eric Chelle no dey perform yeye experiment jare!

Chukwueze no fit play African football anymore, he's not strong or energetic enough. Dessers was just running around in the last match, no significant contribution.

Finally, I hope he uses Tolu Arokodare early in the match so that we can establish dominance and get some goals. The chances of qualification are too narrow to be experimenting with players who are not strong or good enough.

If this guy can't win these two games, he should be sacked. I think this guy is one of the worst coach NFF has ever employed.

I don't know how but I believe we will qualify for the world cup.

The worst super eagles qualification team we have seen

Before people will make noise that coach must give home based players a chance. And ask questions on the number of home based to be invited. And coach too will comply.
Now it’s safer to keep quiet

Any need of playing the remaining two matches?
We should forget about the matches and allowed Benin Republic and South Africa to drag for the top spot.
Super Eagle no be am at all!!!!

These are the matches that will determine our fate:

Lesotho vs Nigeria
Nigeria vs Benin
Zimbabwe vs S/Africa
S/Africa vs Rwanda
Rwanda vs Benin

S/Africa still has the best chance of qualifying, but if they are careless enough to drop 3pts & we win our 2matches, then Nigeria qualifies.

I blame the coaches. Nigeria has no team. South Africa and Benin Republic use mostly local players to achieve great results against Nigeria who use so called established players. That's how to to know good coaches. Nigeria always want the easy way and end up struggling. Football is played with passion not by name.

If we can beat Lesotho and Benin with 2 or 3 unreplied goals, we can still qualify or have chance of playing in playoff.

Benin and South Africa cant easily win against Rwanda that also have good chance of qualification for the world cup.

Let him who he likes so that when he fails he won't have any excuse to give anybody.

We are always playing qualifiers bit we don't qualify.

ARISHEM:
Before people will make noise that coach must give home based players a chance. And ask questions on the number of home based to be invited. And coach too will comply.
Now it’s safer to keep quiet

Lolz, it's better we keep quiet cus the home based players has nothing to offer

GanagiBitrus:
These are the matches that will determine our fate:

Lesotho vs Nigeria
Nigeria vs Benin
Zimbabwe vs S/Africa
S/Africa vs Rwanda
Rwanda vs Benin

If S/Africa is careless enough to drop 3pts & we win our 2matches, then Nigeria qualifies.

See without mincing words, SA are winning those 2 matches. They're at home for the 2 matches

The number of midfielders called up shows that we have a problem in the midfield

Kalulu44:
See without mincing words, SA are winning those 2 matches. They're at home for the 2 matches

Most likely, but this is football; anything can still happen.

BTW, it's unfair for FIFA to insist on Zimbabwe playing that their home match against SA in SA.

GanagiBitrus:
These are the matches that will determine our fate:

Lesotho vs Nigeria
Nigeria vs Benin
Zimbabwe vs S/Africa
S/Africa vs Rwanda
Rwanda vs Benin

S/Africa still has the best chance of qualifying, but if they are careless enough to drop 3pts & we win our 2matches, then Nigeria qualifies.

Rwanda is still in the race They should help us beat South Africa while we win our remaining matches with plenty goals

The Super Eagles problem is the absence of a playmaker, no skillful midfielder to balance the midfield, we have average players playing in average clubs in Europe. No one have the skill of Mikel or that of Okocha. Just average players trying to make a team

Userr:
Rwanda is still in the race They should help us beat South Africa while we win our remaining matches with plenty goals

Yes they are, but they won't finish above us if we win our 2matches. Same with Benin.

The greatest threat to our qualification even if we win our 2matches is S/Africa.

GadoosGadoo:
Nothing new in the list, wish we can bag nwaneri

If you need to do any Verification please check my profile

Nwaneri the arsenal kid.

Iwobi with his scintillating performances for fulham when he reach super eagle man will be playing like amateur. Nwaneri will be no different. Super eagle needs deliverance.

Nakuza:
I don't know how but I believe we will qualify for the world cup.

lol dey play so U believe day south Africa for even draw a game lol Omo na only 4point south Africa need u , u need 6points and goals which won't be enough

Akaujaa:
I blame the coaches. Nigeria has no team. South Africa and Benin Republic use mostly local players to achieve great results against Nigeria who use so called established players. That's how to to know good coaches. Nigeria always want the easy way and end up struggling. Football is played with passion not by name.

Westin the so local player do for the just concluded chan bro sometimes enh just like make them mash una face

Chukwueze and Iheanacho are old

Victor boniface Should retire from eagles

Akaujaa:
I blame the coaches. Nigeria has no team. South Africa and Benin Republic use mostly local players to achieve great results against Nigeria who use so called established players. That's how to to know good coaches. Nigeria always want the easy way and end up struggling. Football is played with passion not by name.

Many bought their way into enlistment. Corruption inside the NFF is mind-boggling .

only 5 defenders 🤣🙆



all attackers. dream team because I don't see reality here

Somehow, I admire how the coaches isolate emotion from their work. As a non-coach, a natural thing would have been to drop Ekong and Dessre for their past dismal performances.