Super Eagles provisional squad list: Who will make Eric Chelle’s final 23?

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled his first provisional squad list as he begins preparations for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigeria will take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later — two crucial matches as the Super Eagles look to revive their faltering qualification campaign.

Appointed in January as the first non-Nigerian African to coach the Super Eagles, Chelle has largely kept faith with the core of the squad that finished second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 39-man squad comprises five goalkeepers, ten defenders, ten midfielders, and 14 attackers. However, only 23 of those will make the final squadlist ahead of the showdown against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Soccernet.ng predicts the Super Eagles’ players that'll likely make Chelle's final cut.

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Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie, Adeleye Adebayo, and Olukayode Bankole all made Chelle's provisional list.

Nwabali is undoubtedly the Super Eagles ‘ first-choice goalkeeper, and Okoye's presence in the squad will build healthy competition for the goalkeeping spots. Remo Stars' Kayode Bankole could get another call-up, and would be a perfect local profile balance in the team.

Defenders: Bright-Osayi Samuel, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Gabriel Osho, Jordan Torunhariga, Zaidu Sanusi, and Bruno Onyemaechi are no strangers to the Super Eagles setup, and it is widely expected that Eric Chelle will go for an experienced backline in his first encounter as Nigeria's boss.

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Ayodele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf and Alex Iwobi.

Attackers: Victor Osimhen remains an undisputed starter for the Super Eagles, joined by Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, the in-form Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella.

Soccernet.ng predicted 23-man squad in full; Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Kayode Bankole; Bright-Osayi Samuel, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Gabriel Osho, Jordan Torunhariga, Zaidu Sanusi, Bruno Onyemaechi; Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Ayodele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf, Alex Iwobi; Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella.