As the Super Eagles training camp thrives in Kigali, ABIODUN ADEWALE and PETER AKINBO highlight the figures associated with Chelle's 23-player roster
GOALKEEPERS
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United)
The South African goalkeeper Nwabali reported for his initial assignment under coach Eric Chelle on Monday evening. Since making his significant debut with the national team in a match against Guinea in January 2024, the 28-year-old has played 16 times for the Super Eagles.
Up until now this season, he has participated in 19 league matches for his team, allowing 15 goals but also maintaining seven shutouts. It looks like he will be the chosen one to guard the net come Friday’s match.
Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)
The former Bendel insurance goalkeeper Obasogie has received his ninth call-up to the national squad but still hasn’t played a match for the Super Eagles.
After recently changing teams during this season, he has participated in 11 matches in the Tanzania Premier League, allowing 10 goals and maintaining three shutouts. Since November 2023, he has been included in the qualifying rounds and could pose strong competition for Nwabali too.
Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Bankole, who is the sole keeper based at home—although the other two players have only recently departed from the Nigerian League—is rewarded with his first-ever call-up to the Super Eagles following several appearances for the home-based Eagles.
In his club career, he has taken part in only seven matches in the NPFL, allowing six goals through and managing three shutouts.
DEFENDERS
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood)
By the age of 31, Captain Troost-Ekong stands as one of the most dependable defenders on the national squad, reaching his prime. During this current international break, he aims to add to his existing tally of 71 appearances for Nigeria and boasts an impressive seven goals since making his debut back in June 2015.
After relocating to Saudi Arabia during the previous summer, the defender has made 23 appearances for his team, scoring twice and providing one assist.
Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
Bassey joins forces with the team during his standout campaign in Europe. He stands out as one of the most reliable performers in the English Premier League, having participated in all but one of Fulham’s 29 matches this season. Additionally, he has scored once.
He made his first appearance for Nigeria during the unfortunate 2022 World Cup playoff matches against Ghana, and he aims to assist new coach Eric Chelle in revamping their strategy for the 2026 World Cup qualifier series. At 25 years old, this player boasts an impressive tally of 29 appearances for the Nigerian national team.
Jordan Torunarigha (Gent)
Initially omitted from the final roster for these matches, Torunarigha was brought in as a substitute for the injured Nathan Tella, increasing the total number of defenders in the squad to seven.
He possesses one international appearance for Nigeria, occurring in a friendly match versus Mozambique in October 2023.
Although he has previously been overlooked for national team selections, he continues to perform consistently for his Belgian club, having made 23 league appearances and contributed one assist this season.
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)
In 2017, Aina began representing Nigeria under Coach Gernot Rohr, accumulating 40 caps since then. At 28 years old and now an integral part of the squad, he joins the latest lineup with the best form of his career, having recently transitioned to a new coaching regime led by Coach Chelle.
This season at Nottingham Forest, Aina has emerged as one of the top defenders in the Premier League, featuring in 29 matches with two goals and an assist to his credit.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce)
In the 4-0 loss to Portugal in November 2022 during his first appearance, Osayi-Samuel stood out as one of the top players in the match. Since then, he has made 20 appearances for Nigeria’s national team. Although he hasn’t scored yet, he does have an assist both internationally and at club level with Fenerbahce, where he played in 17 league matches this season.
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos)
Onyemaechi’s first appearance for Nigeria was during their 6-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe in October 2023, after which he has played 11 times. Recently transferred from Portuguese club Boavista to Greek champions Olympiacos in January, the 25-year-old defender has only managed to come off the substitutes' bench twice so far.
Igho Ogbu (Slavia Prague)
Among the possible new additions to the defense, Ogbu once more made headlines in Nigeria after scoring a crucial goal in Slavia Prague's significant victory against Jablonec in the Czech Republic league this past weekend; this was his second goal of the season. Additionally, the ex-Gombe United player disclosed not long ago that he turned down an opportunity to represent Norway at one point when he was playing abroad, opting instead to wait for his shot with the Nigerian national team, known as the Super Eagles.
MIDFIELDERS
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
The 28-year-old midfield player gets back into the national squad with his initial selection under coach Eric Chelle. This defensive midfielder has played 56 times for the Super Eagles since making his debut against DR Congo in 2015.
This season, Ndidi has played in 21 Premier League games for Leicester City, scoring one goal and providing four assists. His steady displays have apparently drawn interest from Atletico Madrid, which has included him in their list of targets for a possible transfer window movement this summer.
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
In September 2022, Onyedika received his debut call-up for Nigeria in a match against Algeria, which was an exhibition game. He also played with the team that came in second place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This season, the midfielder has stood out for Club Brugge, featuring in 36 matches, scoring twice, and providing two assists across various tournaments. Even though the team was recently eliminated from the Champions League following a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa (with an overall score of 6-1), Onyedika still has a chance at securing the Belgian league championship.
Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution)
Yusuf debuted at AFCON in January 2024 during the match against Equatorial Guinea, but he had to leave the game in the 69th minute because of an injury. He was brought into the Nigerian team to take over from Ndidi for this competition.
After transitioning to Major League Soccer, the midfielder has begun every one of the first four games with the New England Revolution this season. Despite not having scored a goal or provided an assist so far this term, his reliable play has ensured he remains part of Chelle’s strategy.
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)
Iwobi, one of the more seasoned members of the team, boasts an impressive tally of 83 caps with Nigeria, ranking him within the elite group of top-seven capped players in Nigerian football history. He has competed for his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and participated in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, notably reaching the final in the 2023 event where Nigeria secured second place.
This year, the 28-year-old player has been performing exceptionally well for Fulham, scoring seven goals and providing four assists across 29 matches in the Premier League. He has become one of manager Marco Silva’s go-to players.
Joe Aribo (Southampton FC)
After debuting with Nigeria against Ukraine in 2019, scoring within the first four minutes of the game, Aribo has since accumulated 34 caps for the national team. He participated in both the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
This season, the midfielder has played 28 matches in the Premier League for Southampton, netting three times as they struggle against demotion. At present, Southampton occupies the last position in the standings with only nine points to their name.
Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Among the midfielders, the sole possible newcomer is 23-year-old Mustapha, who has emerged as one of the brightest talents in the upcoming 2024/25 NPFL campaign. His performances stood out during the local-based Eagles' qualification matches for the 2024 CHAN competition due to his exceptional ball control, extensive passing skills, and powerful long-distance shots.
The Niger Tornadoes midfielder has scored three goals and provided two assists in 18 NPFL games this season; however, he hasn’t played in his team’s past five fixtures due to transfer speculations. His selection is unexpected because of his lack of recent action.
FORWARDS
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan)
Since making his debut with Nigeria in November 2018, Chukwueze has accumulated 42 caps and scored six goals. His first senior international goal came during Nigeria’s 2-1 win against South Africa in the quarterfinals of the 2019 African Nations Championship (AFCHAN), and he was also part of the team that took second place at the 2023 edition of the same competition.
The winger has found it difficult to secure consistent playtime at AC Milan with coach Sergio Conceicao, remaining an unused substitute in five out of their last nine league games since recovering from a hamstring issue in January. Throughout the campaign, he has managed to score five goals and provide one assist across all competitions in 29 outings, as Milan currently find themselves in ninth place on the standings.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC)
Osimhen matched Segun Odegbami’s goal-scoring record for Nigeria after finding the back of the net 23 times in 39 appearances. Since moving to Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, he has demonstrated remarkable performance with 26 goals and six assists in 30 total matches, helping them chase consecutive Turkish Super League championships.
The young player's prospects remain unclear as various teams from the Premier League are apparently considering triggering his €75 million release clause. Additionally, speculations connecting him to Juventus have started circulating.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC)
After making his debut for Nigeria, Lookman has netted eight times in 27 matches. His significant contribution helped Nigeria reach the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which led to him being honored as the CAF African Player of the Year.
The striker from Atalanta has become one of the standout players in Serie A, leading as the top-rated athlete in Italy’s premier league this season with an outstanding score of 7.37. In various contests, he has scored 18 goals and provided seven assists over 32 games.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)
In September 2023, Boniface represented Nigeria for the first time when they played against the Benin Republic, setting up a goal for Samuel Chukwueze. Even though he has participated in 11 matches with the Super Eagles team, he hasn’t managed to find the back of the net internationally yet.
Initially included in Nigeria's roster for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the forward had to pull out because of a muscle strain. Throughout this unpredictable campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, where he has participated in 22 matches and racked up 10 goals along with one assist, speculation about his potential departure at the end of the summer has been growing.
Moses Simon (FC Nantes)
Simon, one of the team's most seasoned members, has represented Nigeria in 73 matches since he first played for them in March 2015, netting nine times. He has also participated in three Africa Cup of Nations competitions with the Nigerian national side.
This season, the winger has excelled at Nantes, scoring six goals and providing eight assists across 24 league games. Although there have been worries about ongoing discomfort from an ankle injury sustained due to a fractured fibula in March 2024, Simon managed to play all 90 minutes in Nantes' recent 1-0 win against Lille.
Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC)
Following his participation with Nigeria in the 2016 Olympics, during which he netted four times—including two against Honduras in their bronze medal win—Umar has since made 12 appearances for the national squad and found the back of the net once.
Since signing with Valencia on loan in January, the forward has been in outstanding form, netting four times in his first eight matches. These goals have played a vital role in Valencia’s efforts to steer clear of the relegation zone, as the team is presently only one point above it.
Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk)
After having a remarkable season in Belgium, the 24-year-old forward has been called up for the first time to join the Super Eagles. He leads the scoring chart in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League with 16 goals from 29 matches played this season.
In total, he has scored 18 goals and contributed six assists in 34 matches across various competitions this season, ranking him as the third-highest scoring Nigerian forward in Europe after Victor Osimhen (26) and Cyriel Dessers (22), despite not being included in the list.
COACH
Eric Chelle
On January 7, the 47-year-old coach with French-Malian heritage was named the new head of the Super Eagles, taking over from Augustine Eguavoen, who had been serving temporarily. Chelle, born in Ivory Coast to parents including a French father and a Malian mother, adds a varied perspective to Nigeria’s team dynamics.
Throughout his playing career, Chelle remained loyal to French football, competing for teams such as Lens, Valenciennes, and Istres prior to moving into management. For his country, he represented Mali internationally, earning five appearances. He embarked on his managerial path when he joined US Boulogne in 2021, which led him to become the head coach of Mali’s national squad in 2022, holding this position until early 2024 when he had a short spell managing MC Oran in Algeria’s top league.
Ever since taking office, Chelle has shown initiative in identifying promising Nigerian players both within the nation and overseas. He journeyed widely throughout England to assess Nigeria’s players in their respective leagues, went to France specifically to see Moses Simon play, and also made multiple trips around the country to attend various NPFL games for spotting local talent.
The initial global opportunity places Chelle in charge of rejuvenating Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification effort, following an unsatisfactory beginning under prior leadership.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Hedi Taboubi
Taboubi, who is both French and Tunisian, will be appointed as Chelle’s initial assistant. He had previously served in the same capacity for the Eagles of Mali when Chelle was managing them at the age of 47.
Daniel Ogunmodede
Remo Stars coach Ogunmodede will continue his role with the national team under Chelle. His first chance came during the last two 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda last year. Afterwards, he led the Super Eagles B to qualify for the 2024 CHAN tournament.
Fidelis Ilechukwu
Similar to his NPFL colleague, Ilechukwu will keep his position within the national team alongside Chelle following his tenure assisting interim coach and NFF Technical Director Austin Eguavoen in the previous year. Additionally, he served as part of the support staff for the 2024 CHAN qualifier matches.
Thomas Gornourec
Gornourec, possessing both a UEFA A License and a master’s degree, has been appointed as the fitness coach. He initiated his responsibilities seriously when he started working with the initial six players who reported for training on Monday.
Jean Daniel Padovani
Padovani, who trained Chelle as a goalkeeper, was also the coach for Comoros' goalkeepers during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon.
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