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Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has named captain Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi in Nigeria’s 24-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau for the second qualifying fixture against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defender Semi Ajayi and forward Moses Simon are also included in the squad, alongside Maduka Okoye, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare.
England-based defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Fredricks return to the squad, while goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and defender Chibuike Nwaiwu have also been selected after featuring prominently during the Unity Cup.
Portugal-based defender Isaac James receives his first Super Eagles call-up, while forwards George Ilhenikina and Moses Usor are also included.
The goalkeeping options for the qualifiers are Okonkwo, Okoye and Nwabali. The defence comprises Bruno Onyemaechi, James, Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Ajayi, Bassey, Nwaiwu, Osayi-Samuel and Aina.
Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyedika and Onyeka form the midfield, while Simon, Osimhen, Adams, Chukwueze, Lookman, Arokodare, Ilhenikina and Usor complete the squad.
Chelle has also announced a separate 24-man squad for Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6.
Ndidi will captain the side again, with Nwabali, Simon, Osayi-Samuel, Fredricks, Onyedika and Adams among the established players retained for the Russia fixture.
The friendly squad also provides opportunities for several less-established players, including Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe. Michael Atata and Samuel James join Nwabali as the three goalkeepers.
Kenneth Igboke, Isaac James, Fredricks, Fernandez, Akpe, Osayi-Samuel and Abdullahi Bewene make up the defensive options, while the midfield includes Ndidi, Onyedika, Chibuzo Nwoko, Stephen Michael, Igor Wilfred, Ridwan Abdulrasaq, Suleiman Mubarak and Aderemi Adeoye.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Simon, Adams, Peter Edokpolor, Abubakar Umar and Abdullahi Umar are the forwards selected for the Russia encounter, giving Chelle a separate group to assess ahead of the October friendly.
