Musa returns as Chelle names provisional squad for first game with Eagles

Ahmed Musa, the Super Eagles captain, has been named in the provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers later this month. 

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) announced the 39-player list in a statement on Tuesday.

Eric Chelle, who was named the Eagles’ head coach in January, picked an expansive interim squad that comprises forgotten, familiar, and new faces for his first set of games.

The Malian tactician recalls Musa to the Eagles camp after almost a year away. The 32-year-old winger last made the Nigerian national team squad at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. Musa did not make an appearance throughout the tournament.

Regular names like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olao Aina, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman were included in the list.

Longtime absentees such as Jordan Torunarigha, Joe Aribo, Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella were also recalled.

Tolu Arokodare, Igoh Ogbu, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha, Akor Adams are named for the first time.

The list will be chiseled down to 23 players before the Super Eagles take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe on March 21 and 25, respectively.

NIGERIA’S PROVISIONAL LIST OF 39 PLAYERS FOR RWANDA, ZIMBABWE

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)