The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced a 31-man provisional squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa, head coach Eric Sekou Chelle confirmed on Friday.

The squad is captained by defender William Ekong and includes first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Simon Moses.

Chelle’s selection also features promising talents such as goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt; defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi; midfielders Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; and forwards Sadiq Umar and Nathan Tella.

Additionally, young defender Benjamin Fredericks, rearguard mates Felix Agu and Igoh Ogbu, midfielder Christantus Uche, and forward Cyriel Dessers — who impressed during Nigeria’s victory at the 2025 Unity Cup Tournament in London — have been included. The squad also sees the return of goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo, defender Chidozie Awaziem, and forward Terem Moffi.

“Fourth-placed Nigeria take on Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday, 6th September in a Matchday 7 encounter, before flying to Bloemfontein to confront South Africa in a potentially-explosive Matchday 8 encounter on Tuesday, 9th September,” the NFF said.

Nigeria’s camp will open in Uyo on Monday, 1st September, ahead of the two crucial matches.

The full provisional squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC)

Head Coach Eric Sekou Chelle has named a 31-man provisional squad for Nigeria’s September World Cup qualifying matches, with goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece), and Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting FC) making the list.

In defence, Chelle has included team captain William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France), Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany), and Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium).

The midfield is anchored by Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England), Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), and Christantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain).

The forwards list is spearheaded by Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Simon Moses (Paris FC, France), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France), and Adams Akor (Sevilla FC, Spain). (ArisNews TV)