On Wednesday, coach Eric Chelle’s 23-man Super Eagles squad list to face Iran and Jordan later this month was revealed.
Most of the usual suspects made the cut. Players like Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Ademola Lookman were all named on the list.
However, the two most notable absentees were Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen and Stanley Nwabali, who has not played a competitive football game since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations third-place match against Egypt on January 17.
Meanwhile, coach Chelle named some new boys, with Rangers' Emmanuel Fernandez, Genk's Yira Sor, and Hamburg's Philip Otele all getting the nod.
These players are still largely unknown to many Nigerians. So in this article, Soccernet.ng will spotlight some unique things to know about each player.
Meet The New Boys In The Super Eagles Squad
Emmanuel Fernandez
The 24-year-old Rangers defender just burst onto the scene this season, and he has made a mark. He joined the Gers from League One club Peterborough in a €2.9 million deal last summer, and he has become a regular for Rangers.
Despite this season being his first in the top flight of any country, Fernandez has featured in 26 games, with six goals to his name. The center-back is known to have a commanding physical presence, elite aerial ability, and high-level passing.
He does well under pressure and also offers a significant goal threat from set-pieces. Chelle has another bully on his hands aside from Calvin Bassey.
His preferred foot is his right, which is why he is best used as a right center-back.
Fernandez was actually born in England to Nigerian parents, which made him eligible for either of the two countries. However, he wasted little time in declaring for Nigeria.
Chelle will likely give him minutes this March, and he will be hoping to make an impression.
Philip Otele
The Hamburg star has definitely worked his way to prominence in the last three years. Just three years ago, he was at one of the lower clubs in the Romanian top flight. But now, he is playing for Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
He signed on loan from Basel in January, and he has been decent so far, contributing one assist in six appearances.
The 26-year-old left winger is tricky on the ball and has a lot of pace to burn. He is a high-volume dribbler and loves to have the ball at his feet.
Otele was born in Port Harcourt, so he understands the Nigerian football culture very well. He could provide Moses Simon with some real competition on Nigeria's wings.
Yira Sor
Genk's Yira Sor is one of the new players on Chelle's list. The 25-year-old winger has been at Genk since 2023 and has registered 17 goals and eight assists in 113 appearances.
He joined Genk from Slavia Prague in a deal worth €6.5 million. At the time, it was a big investment, as they believed he would blossom and eventually become a big sale to a top club.
While he has struggled to hit that mark consistently, he has had some flashes of brilliance.
He has been touted as one of the fastest players in football, having reached a top speed of 39km/hr earlier this season. Aside from his speed, Sor is also versatile and has a great work rate. He could be a real asset for coach Eric Chelle.
