Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has announced a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-offs in Rabat, Morocco.
The major highlight is the return of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who has been out of the national team for almost two years.
His comeback comes as fans call for the current first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, to be dropped due to his poor form.
Chelle’s squad also includes captain William Troost-Ekong, star striker Victor Osimhen, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, as well as midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi, who now has 89 international caps.
Other players on the list are Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and Chidera Ejuke, along with newcomers Benjamin Fredericks, Raphael Onyedika, Tolu Arokodare, Jerome Akor Adams, and Olusegun Olakunle.
Nigeria will face Gabon in the first semi-final on November 22 at the Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat. Cameroon will take on DR Congo in the other semi-final.
The Super Eagles will begin camping in Morocco on November 10, with players arriving from their clubs in Europe and other parts of the world.
Okoye, who plays for Udinese in Italy’s Serie A, was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, after a costly mistake in the Round-of-16 loss to Tunisia, he faced heavy criticism and took a break from international football.
Now back in top form at Udinese, Okoye’s return is seen as a reward for his improvement and a challenge to Nwabali’s position as number one.
Earlier this year, Okoye was suspended for two months in Italy for breaching betting rules, but he was later cleared of match-fixing allegations.
As Nigeria prepares for the play-offs, all eyes will be on the battle for the goalkeeping spot, with Okoye’s return expected to heat up competition.
Full Squad List
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy).
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium).
Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium).
Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).