The Super Eagles will be without Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Leicester City midfielder for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
Nigeria’s squad for the November matches was unveiled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday, featuring 23 players as they embark on their journey to secure a spot in the global football event set to take place in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Osimhen, recovering from an injury sustained in Nigeria’s friendly against Saudi Arabia, and Ndidi, dealing with injury concerns, will be sidelined for the games. AC Milan’s recent acquisition, Samuel Chukwueze, is also notably absent, while embattled goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has made the squad.
Nigeria, the three-time African champions, are set to take on Lesotho’s Crocodiles at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on November 16, followed by a match against Zimbabwe on the 19th of the same month.
The Super Eagles find themselves in Group C of the qualification series, where they will compete against South Africa, Rwanda, Benin, as well as Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
FULL LIST OF 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)