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Nigeria national football team squad preparations

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2026-09-18 01:54 UTC → 2026-09-19 12:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, ~~is undergoing a~~ continues its rebuilding phase under head coach Éric Sékou Chelle. To Chelle is utilizing two separate squads to balance immediate competitive needs with long-term talent ~~development, Chelle is preparing to utilize two separate squads: one of~~ development: an established senior ~~players~~ roster for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and a ~~second, primarily Under-23 squad,~~ younger group for an international friendly against ~~Russia. Head coach~~ Russia scheduled for October 6 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. To expand the national team's roster, Chelle has ~~officially announced~~ issued 13 new senior call-ups, primarily selecting players from clubs in Europe and the Middle East. Notable debutants include 19-year-old FC Basel centre-back Victory Akpe, 22-year-old defender Isaac James, and 20-year-old SJK goalkeeper Samuel James. The coach is using the upcoming friendly against Russia as a specific opportunity to assess this younger talent for the senior set-up. The 24-man squad for the ~~upcoming~~ AFCON qualifying ~~matches. The roster~~ matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau includes established stars such as captain Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Moses Simon. The defensive unit ~~is bolstered by~~ features the return of Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Fredricks, ~~while~~ alongside new faces ~~joining the senior team for the first time include defender Isaac James, striker~~ George ~~Ilenikhena,~~ Ilenikhena and ~~forward~~ Moses Usor. Fitness concerns persist ahead of the scheduled fixtures. While Victor Osimhen remains a part of the squad, he has been sidelined by injury, and Tolu Arokodare has recently been dealing with a fever. The Super Eagles are set to host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before traveling to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29. ~~Additionally, Chelle continues to scout the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) to bolster the Olympic Eagles ahead of the 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign.~~

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