Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Éric Sékou Chelle, has dropped forwards Ahmed Musa, Cyriel Dessers, and Kelechi Iheanacho, as well as Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, from his final 23-man list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.

Instead, Chelle picked goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, and Kayode Bankole, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in his final list.

Also on the final list are defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar.

Czech Republic-based defender, Igoh Ogbu makes the final cut, alongside home-based midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha, and Belgium-based forward Tolu Arokodare.

Nigeria will confront Group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21 before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.

The final 23 players for the Rwanda and Zimbabwe matches are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); and Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars), while the defenders are William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); and Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic).

To vie for positions in the midfield are Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); and Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), just as Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); and Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium) will battle for positions in the attack.
https://guardian.ng/sport/football/chelle-drops-musa-iheanacho-picks-ogbu-others-for-rwanda-zimbabwe-clashes/