On Friday, the Super Eagles squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September was revealed.
Nigeria face off against Rwanda on September 6, and South Africa on September 9 in a bid to keep their hopes of reaching next year’s Mundial alive. With the threat of sanctions hanging over Bafana for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the series, the three-time African champions still nurse hope of reaching the finals in North America.
To that end, Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle has put forward a 31-man provisional list. While it is expected that the roster will be trimmed by between six to eight players, here is an assessment of the most surprising choices, both pleasant and unpleasant.
Eric Chelle’s 31-man provisional list for September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa.#SoarSuperEagles #Naija4theWin pic.twitter.com/kqbsVu5z1i
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) August 22, 2025
Hits from Super Eagles squad
Terem Moffi
It has been a long, hard road back from the cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for eight months, essentially throughout the 2024/5 season. However, the 2024 AFCON silver medallist is back in action, and back in the Super Eagles fold.
The Nice man is, on his day, a complete forward. He has looked sharp in preseason, and has also featured in UEFA Champions League qualifying with the Ligue 1 side, so he is both fit and firing. He makes for a worthy addition to the Nigeria ranks.
Chidozie Awaziem
Awaziem’s return to European football was as much of a surprise as his decision to leave for MLS a year ago. He’s back, rejoining former side Nantes, with whom he previously spent a year on loan eight years ago. And, so far, he has looked strong. In the club’s season opener against European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Awaziem was one of the better performers in a narrow 1-0 defeat.
With the Super Eagles struggling for options in the centre of defence, the 28-year-old’s experience could prove important.
Misses from Super Eagles squad
Umar Sadiq
Dread it, run from it, Sadiq seems to arrive just the same. Quite how the Real Sociedad reject has made it onto this list is a mystery. Not only is he on the outs at Anoeta, but he has played exactly zero minutes of football in preseason for the LaLiga side and has not even been given a number.
That would be easier to overlook if, like Tolu Arokodare, he has impressed enough under Chelle to demand some loyalty. The opposite is the case: Sadiq has not played even a minute under this manager. Just a bizarre pick all around.
Victor Boniface
In sort of the same boat as Sadiq, except that Boniface has played some minutes in preseason and has been used by Chelle previously.
The issue here is that those minutes have been off the bench, with the suggestion being that Bayer Leverkusen were protecting him from potential injury ahead of a transfer. (He is now set to join Serie A side AC Milan.) Also, while he has featured in the current Super Eagles regime, he has been a major disappointment whenever called upon.
Igoh Ogbu
This one is, admittedly, a little harsh. However, there was nothing he displayed at the Unity Cup in late May that suggested Ogbu is good enough for this level. He is a trier, in fairness, but against any kind of quality he is much too reactive and lacking in composure to properly shine.
What makes his inclusion particularly egregious is the fact that, in essence, he has been called up instead of Gabriel Osho, who plays at a higher level and looks a stronger fit for the demands of international football.
