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2026 WCQ: Chelle invites Ekong, Osimhen, 21 others for Crocodiles, Cheetahs battles

Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Eric Chelle, has picked team captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in his list of 23 players for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and the Benin Republic.

Defender Semi Ajayi, who missed the last two matches in the September window due to injury, returns to the group, as do France-based Terem Moffi and former junior international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays his club football in Russia.

Now in third place and only three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, the Super Eagles will tackle the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October in a Matchday 9 encounter before flying from South Africa to Uyo to battle leaders Benin Republic in a fiery final Matchday game on Tuesday, 14th October.

The players are scheduled to fly into South Africa from their different bases in Europe to converge in Polokwane on Monday, 6th October.

Invited players

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

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).

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Taofeek Lawal

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