Osimhen, Chukwueze absent as Peseiro name squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Jose Peseiro, the head coach of the Super Eagles, has named his 23-player squad for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

The list was unveiled in a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday.

The Italian Serie A duo of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze are absent from the squad due to injury lay-off.

Osimhen suffered a knock in the Super Eagles’ 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia last month, and the 24-year-old has yet to return to action since.

Chukwueze’s injury was announced by AC Milan, his club, after he returned from the last international break. Wilfred Ndidi is also absent due to injury.

The latest list includes a new invitee, Nathan Tella, while Jamilu Collins returns to the squad alongside Maduka Okoye and Sadiq Umar.

Moses Simon, Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman and Taiwo Awoniyi lead the team in attack, while Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo also make the cut.

Super Eagles will begin their quest to earn a place in the 2026 World Cup when they host Lesotho on November 16 before flying to Rwanda to play Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare three days later.

Zimbabwe has adopted Rwanda as home turf for the qualifiers, as no stadium in the country was deemed fit to host the FIFA World Cup qualifying games.

The 2026 World Cup is billed to be jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will be the largest edition of the World Cup, with 48 teams set to participate — an expansion from the previous 32 participants.

There will be nine automatic qualification slots for African countries, with one guaranteed a play-off route to the tournament.

Nigeria was drawn in Group C of the qualification round alongside South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio, Italy)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales)

Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)