Written by Rahmon OluwoNigeria sports betting writer
Published 7 November 2026
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania. Victor Osimhen is not in the squad after a knee injury.
The NFF announced the squad on Saturday 7 November for matchdays 3 and 4 of Group L.
Osimhen out after knee surgery
The Galatasaray striker hurt his left knee in the club’s UEFA Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday. An MRI scan showed a loose body in the knee. He had successful arthroscopic surgery on Saturday at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital, performed by club doctor Yener İnce.
The 27-year-old had already missed Nigeria’s first two qualifiers in September, against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with a groin injury.
Other absentees
Samuel Chukwueze is out after hip surgery in London. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and striker Kelechi Iheanacho were also left out.
The 24-man squad
- Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava, Czechia)
- Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Tochukwu Nnadi (Marseille, France); Samson Tijani (FK Podbrezova, Slovakia); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Mubarak Suleiman (Slavia Prague, Czechia)
- Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid, Spain); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands); Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, England); Moses Usor (LASK, Austria)
New face and returnees
Slavia Prague midfielder Mubarak Suleiman receives his first senior call-up. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho returns to the squad, and Tochukwu Nnadi, Alhassan Yusuf and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru are back after injuries.
Fixtures against Tanzania
Nigeria welcome Tanzania to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday 13 November. The two sides meet again four days later, on Tuesday 17 November, when the Super Eagles travel to the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar for the return leg.
Where Nigeria stand
Nigeria beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo in September, then lost 3-0 away to Guinea-Bissau. They have 3 points from 2 games and are second in Group L behind Guinea-Bissau on 6, with only one place available from the group.
Tanzania have already qualified as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. They are yet to win in the qualifiers, having lost 2-0 to Guinea-Bissau and drawn 1-1 with Madagascar.
