AFCON 2027 Qualifier: Chelle names 24 Super Eagles players, drops Osimhen, Okoye

Head Coach Éric Chelle

Head Coach Éric Chelle

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has omitted Victor Osimhen, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and forward Kelechi Iheanacho from his 24-man squad for Nigeria’s two-legged 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Tanzania in November.

Chelle instead included captain Wilfred Ndidi, defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, as well as forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams.

Goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo also made the squad, alongside defenders Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredricks.

Midfielders Tochukwu Nnadi and Samson Tijani were also selected, while forwards Moses Usor and Taiwo Awoniyi completed the list.

Turkey-based defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia-based wing-back Abdullahi Bewene are also called.

The Super Eagles host tournament joint-hosts Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13th November, before flying out for the return against the Taifa Stars at Zanzibar’s Amman Stadium on Tuesday, 17th November.

Nigeria, currently in second position in Group L, must win both games to improve their chances of picking the only ticket from the pool for the final tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next summer.

Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa).

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham FC, England); Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava, Czechia)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France); Samson Tijani (FK Podbrezova, Slovakia); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Mubarak Suleiman (SK Slavia Prague, Czechia).

Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, England); Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Moses Usor (LASK FC, Austria).

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