₦airaland Forum

Blueelf:
If we are bring honest, Benjamin frefldericks shouldn't have being called up

Not because he isn't good but he lacks match sharpness and may cost us

We need to start acquiring all the points we can get

Hopefully he doesn't start

I may be wrong sha. I'm a huge fan of his work either ways

Nawa o, na everybody wey dem call up dey start?

So all the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 none of them was called up

Super Eagles Squad for Russia friendly Brief Analysis
*There are 14 Eligible U23 Talents for the Russia Friendly, 3 of which are Homebased.

🟢The U23 talents (2005-born and younger)

GKs:
Michael Chibuzor Atata (Ikorodu City, Nigeria)
Samuel James (SJK, Finland)


DFs:
CB - Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford)
CB - Akpe Victory (FC Basel)
LB - Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)


MFs:
CDM - Chibuzo "Chibby" Nwoko (Fulham U21s)
CAM/CM - Mubarak Suleiman (Slavia Praha)
CM - Stephen Fumen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark)
CDM - Wilfried George Igor (Kristiansund, Norway)
CDM/CM - Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola (Al Wasl, UAE)
CM - Aderemi Jacob Adeoye (Ikorodu City, Nigeria)


FWs:
ST - Peter Edokpolor (Benfica U23s/Benfica B)
CF - Umar Abubakar (Famalicao, Portugal)
SS/CF - Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czech rep)


🟢Other young faces:
LB- Isaac James (Alverca)🆕️
RB - Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava)



🟢The Older Guards:

GK - Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd, SA)

RB - Bright Osayi Samuel (Birmingham, England)
CB - Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers, Scotland)

CDM - Wilfred Ndidi (Captain)©️ (Besiktas, Tur)
CDM - Raphael Onyedika (E.Frankfurt, Germany)

CF - Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy)
CF - Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor, Tur)

LW - Moses Simon (Paris FC, Ligue 1)

Chibby Nwoko was called up for the Russia friendly. He is part of the U23 focus.

Others still in the works.

Subzero047:
So all the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 none of them was called up

Frederick has not played a lot of games lately since his return. Only been involved in 2 PL 2 games for Brentford U21s and did not come off the bench for them in the Carabao vs Reading.

So dont expect him to start.

Blueelf:
If we are bring honest, Benjamin frefldericks shouldn't have being called up

Not because he isn't good but he lacks match sharpness and may cost us

We need to start acquiring all the points we can get

Hopefully he doesn't start

I may be wrong sha. I'm a huge fan of his work either ways

I'm not comfortable with how lean our midfield is for the Madagascar and Guinea Bissau games though. But Eric Chelle has given me enough reasons to trust him, so I'll just watch him cook.
It seems the Russia friendly is for the U23s, not the senior team. Good. That's a step in the right direction for our U23 qualifiers.
I'm assuming Femi Azeez and Zadok Yohanna didn't make the list because both are still trying to settle at Brighton (especially Femi), plus Zadok might be injured anyway.

TheSuperNerd:
Chibby Nwoko was called up for the Russia friendly. He is part of the U23 focus.

Others still in the works.

Ok let me go and look him up

From my findings decent midfield prospect not anything overly exciting, we could be doing so much better

I also noticed that he's managed by Elite management group who are also in charge of Iwobi, Aina and other 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 nationals

Subzero047:
Ok let me go and look him up

The good thing about this expanded FIFA break is that it allows most countries to give opportunity to fringe players..

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles Squad for Russia friendly Brief Analysis
*There are 14 Eligible U23 Talents for the Russia Friendly, 3 of which are Homebased.

🟢The U23 talents (2005-born and younger)

GKs:
Michael Chibuzor Atata (Ikorodu City, Nigeria)
Samuel James (SJK, Finland)


DFs:
CB - Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford)
CB - Akpe Victory (FC Basel)
LB - Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)


MFs:
CDM - Chibuzo "Chibby" Nwoko (Fulham U21s)
CAM/CM - Mubarak Suleiman (Slavia Praha)
CM - Stephen Fumen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark)
CDM - Wilfried George Igor (Kristiansund, Norway)
CDM/CM - Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola (Al Wasl, UAE)
CM - Aderemi Jacob Adeoye (Ikorodu City, Nigeria)


FWs:
ST - Peter Edokpolor (Benfica U23s/Benfica B)
CF - Umar Abubakar (Famalicao, Portugal)
SS/CF - Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czech rep)


🟢Other young faces:
LB- Isaac James (Alverca)🆕️
RB - Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava)



🟢The Older Guards:

GK - Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd, SA)

RB - Bright Osayi Samuel (Birmingham, England)
CB - Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers, Scotland)

CDM - Wilfred Ndidi (Captain)©️ (Besiktas, Tur)
CDM - Raphael Onyedika (E.Frankfurt, Germany)

CF - Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy)
CF - Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor, Tur)

LW - Moses Simon (Paris FC, Ligue 1)

Super Eagles Main Squad for Afcon 2027 Qualifiers Battle.

Most of the main squad is well known by all.

The only new additions to the main squad are:
🆕️22y/o LB, Isaac James (Alverca, Liga Portugal) *Also included in Russia squad list.

🆕️20y/o CF, George Ilenikhena (Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League)

🆕️24y/o SS/Wing FW, Moses Usor (LASK, Austria Bundesliga)



The Main Squad Returnees:
✅️Stanley Nwabali, GK
✅️Victor Osimhen, CF
✅️Benjamin Fredricks, CB
✅️Ola Aina, RB
✅️Tolu Arokodare, CF who emerges as the 4th Striker pick with Osimhen, Akor and new guy, Ilenikhena guaranteed.

Subzero047:
From my findings decent midfield prospect not anything overly exciting, we could be doing so much better

Ife, Yah, Lesley, Tim, Iorpenda, Onyeka, Akarakiri, etc... are in the works.

Chibuzo Nwoko is the new first of several more young dual nats to follow. He was nominated for PL2 Player of the Month (August 2026) which was eventually won by Kaye Furo. A solid young prospect but we arent stopping here.

We look light in the middle due to the injury crisis rocking the team's midfield pool currently.

FDB 🏥 (still in doubt)
Nnadi 🏥
Alhassan 🏥
Akinsanmiro 🏥 (Listed as doubtful for tomorrow's game due to fitness concerns and a muscle injury picked up in the last game. Initially thought not so serious but needs a final check to confirm availability for tomorrow).

But the quartet of Iwobi, Ndidi, Onyeka and Onyedika should be enough to get the job done vs Madagascar and GNB.

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles Main Squad for Afcon 2027 Qualifiers Battle.

Most of the main squad is well known by all.

The only new additions to the main squad are:
🆕️22y/o LB, Isaac James (Alverca, Liga Portugal) *Also included in Russia squad list.

🆕️20y/o CF, George Ilenikhena (Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League)

🆕️24y/o SS/Wing FW, Moses Usor (LASK, Austria Bundesliga)



The Main Squad Returnees:
✅️Stanley Nwabali, GK
✅️Benjamin Fredricks, CB
✅️Ola Aina, RB
✅️Tolu Arokodare, CF who emerges as the 4th Striker pick with Osimhen, Akor and new guy, Ilenikhena guaranteed.

More on Chibby Nwoko here in this post...✅️

TheSuperNerd:
On 20y/o 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 CDM, Chibuzo Nwoko of Fulham U21s

Senior-debuted in the Carabao Cup win for Fulham vs Wimbledon on August 27/28.

2026/27 Uefa Europa League Coverage - Naija🇳🇬

Wilfred Ndidi subbed in on 71mins for Besiktas in their 4-1 home win vs Marseille.

Bamidele Yusuf started, played 66mins, scored ⚽️ and bagged 2 assists🅰️🅰️ in Ferencvaros' 3-1 away win at Celtic.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 Winger, Armstrong Oko-Flex started and played 76mins for Levski Sofia in their 0-1 home loss vs RB Salzburg.

18y/o Winger, Seun Akanji benched in Lillestrom's 1-2 home loss vs Liga Portugal 2 side, SCU Torreense.

Salim Fago Lawal subbed in on 46mins in Viktoria Plzen's 3-0 home loss vs Royal USG.

1.We would need to scout for more midfielders.
2. Ndidi doesn't have the legs and the energy anymore.
3. We need to start integrating the player on the flanks that would eventually displace Moses Simon. This guy is not it anymore. By now we should have seen some of these English-Nigerian dual nationals in that position.
4. There is no more room for experiments in tactics.The sides we are facing would be very difficult to beat.
5. When the time comes for tolu arokodale to play, please the coach should not expect him to play like osimhen, giving him some weird passes to chase up and down the field. The chances need to be created for him to convert, that is the only way to get the best out of him and for the benefit of the team.
6. The coach should not over burden the full backs so they don't start falling of with injuries.

Rafiu Durosinmi was not considered for either list.

The road map under Eric Chelle is simple...the days of Ndidi, Simon, Iwobi and even Ajayi are numbered, but they are still very key players for us in providing that experience in navigating us through the tricky AFCON qualifiers, their hour glass sand gets filled up after the next AFCON...which by then the U23 generation Chelle is building should be ready to phase out some of our aging players in the persons of Simon,Ndidi and even Iwobi. That's why that U23 team if gotten right is very foundational to our rebuilding process.

TheSuperNerd:
2026/27 Uefa Europa League Coverage - Naija🇳🇬

Wilfred Ndidi subbed in on 71mins for Besiktas in their 4-1 home win vs Marseille.

Bamidele Yusuf started, played 66mins and bagged 2 assists🅰️🅰️ in Ferencvaros' 3-1 away win at Celtic.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 Winger, Armstrong Oko-Flex started and played 76mins for Levski Sofia in their 0-1 home loss vs RB Salzburg.

18y/o Winger, Seun Akanji benched in Lillestrom's 1-2 home loss vs Liga Portugal 2 side, SCU Torreense.

Salim Fago Lawal subbed in on 46mins in Viktoria Plzen's 3-0 home loss vs Royal USG.

Why is Ndidi being benched in Turkey of all places?

TheSuperNerd:
Ife, Yah, Lesley, Tim, Iorpenda, Onyeka, Akarakiri, etc... are in the works.

Chibuzo Nwoko is the new first of several more young dual nats to follow. He was nominated for PL2 Player of the Month (August 2026) which was eventually won by Kaye Furo. A solid young prospect but we arent stopping here.

Chelle yet to give up on Onyeka? The man mean business oooo

He should also beam his search light on Ogbu of Freiburg, Maluze of Frankfurt and Edeh of Deportivo La Coruna, the trio are also eligible for Switzerland, Germany and Poland

I love what the gaffer is doing but him and his scouts shouldn’t only focus on players born and playing in England. They re good number of talented diaspora boys in Italy,Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Germany. It will be ideal to get as much as we can to have a large pool to pick from now and the nearest future

SymphonyRad:
The road map under Eric Chelle is simple...the days of Ndidi, Simon, Iwobi and even Ajayi are numbered, but they are still very key players for us in providing that experience in navigating us through the tricky AFCON qualifiers, their hour glass sand gets filled up after the next AFCON...which by then the U23 generation Chelle is building should be ready to phase out some of our aging players in the persons of Simon,Ndidi and even Iwobi. That's why that U23 team if gotten right is very foundational to our rebuilding process.

I think Iwobi isn’t leaving the super eagles anytime soon bro as long as he remains active in Fulham

Good list and exciting time for the SE. Eric Chelle is cooking something big, and it is all coming together. The invitation of Kelechi Iheanacho to me is actually a psychological masterstroke by Eric Chelle. He is signaling to guys like Boniface, Tella, etc., that if you get in good form and you are performing, the door to the supereagles is always open. Football is not really that complicated. It really does not take that much time to evaluate and come to a conclusion on a player. Two defenders who are not regulars in the SE that I told you guys were complete ballers and are coming to retire folks in the national team Chibuike Nwaiwu and Victor Akpe are here finally. You better get used to them because they are going to be here for a very long time. Victory Akpe's potential is sky high. Both of these boys will be 40-plus million pounds defenders in 2 years. The two aspects of their game that I really liked are that they are both ball-playing defenders. To be able to play for some of the better teams in Europe, you have to be a ball-playing defender. Calvin Bassey, Emmanuel Fernandez, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Benjamin Fedricks, and Victory Akpe are ball-playing defenders.

If you go back to the 90s, our ability to play the game at our own tempo all came down to having technical players all over the pitch. Eric Chelle understands this principal, and he is slowly building the SE. The goalkeeping situation is the best I have seen it for a very long time. I will not swap our goalkeepers for any set in Africa. The days of our center backs all being jittery and uncomfortable on the ball that always leads to aimless long balls are slowly becoming a thing of the past. The final step now is to upgrade the midfield. I am hearing a report that a contact has been made to Francis Onyeka, and the boy is actually interested in playing for us. Getting that boy will really be a major boost for the SE. I really love what I saw from the Fulham kid Chibuzo Nwoko. He is highly rated at Fulham, and mark it here that boy will retire a lot of people in the SE.

We have many young midfielders coming up. Tochukwu Nnadi, Ebenezer Akinsamiro, Chibuzo Nwoko, Isreal Ayuma, and Francis Onyeka when you add them to the experience ballers we currently have in Alex Owibi, Deli Bashiru, and Rafael Onyedika, the midfield problem will soon be a thing of the past. Wingers and strikers have always and will always be plenty for SE. If we can get the administrative side of the business right, exciting times actually lie ahead for the SE fans.

dreamers utd

The AFCON qualifiers squad list though lean in midfield makes sense die.

Eric Chelle is cooking, and the food dey scent

Joebie:
dreamers utd

Lol

TheSuperNerd:
Super Eagles Main Squad for Afcon 2027 Qualifiers Battle.

Most of the main squad is well known by all.

The only new additions to the main squad are:
🆕️22y/o LB, Isaac James (Alverca, Liga Portugal) *Also included in Russia squad list.

🆕️20y/o CF, George Ilenikhena (Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League)

🆕️24y/o SS/Wing FW, Moses Usor (LASK, Austria Bundesliga)



The Main Squad Returnees:
✅️Stanley Nwabali, GK
✅️Victor Osimhen, CF
✅️Benjamin Fredricks, CB
✅️Ola Aina, RB
✅️Tolu Arokodare, CF who emerges as the 4th Striker pick with Osimhen, Akor and new guy, Ilenikhena guaranteed.

It's like the reorganisation in the NFF had an effect on this list. Especially the AFCOQ list, no such names from Akpa amu FC and the rest

I see our list was delayed due to the political instability at the glass house

The left footed girl with a Bayelsa sounding name is a proper baller. I hope she maintains good fitness.

I know Ijaw names whenever I see "Wei" as a prefix.

......wei Seimeyeha

Papi85:
I think Iwobi isn’t leaving the super eagles anytime soon bro as long as he remains active in Fulham

Make dem dey play naa....Iwobi will play in world cup 2030 if we qualify just as Kanu was in 2010 WC and Mikel was in 2018WC

comodo:
It's like the reorganisation in the NFF had an effect on this list. Especially the AFCOQ list, no such names from Akpa amu FC and the rest

koromoto united 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Though missing out on the world cup is already a norm for us, I just have to remind us that if we depend on this midfield and the likes of Simon, we will also not smell the 2030 world cup.


Chelle should prioritise Yah, Ugochukwu, Iorpenda, Iroegbu, Francis Onyeka and Ozoh. Our midfield depth is so shallow and average. Kudos to him for bringing Nwoko on board.

Is Gift Orban not Nigerian?
Is he not eligible to play for the Super Eagles?

Why is he being overlooked?

SolaFide:
Is Gift Orban not Nigerian?
Is he not eligible to play for the Super Eagles?

Why is he being overlooked?

You asked this before
Someone answered you
Now you are back to it