Nigeria squad announcement: Iwobi, Aina, Awoniyi, Aribo make roster for WCQ; first-ever call-up for Tella

The Nigeria Football Federation have announced the Super Eagles roster for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November with 23 players part of the group.

An analysis of the squad list revealed that three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders and eight forwards have been summoned for the back-to-back games.

Nottingham Forest stars Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi, Fulham duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Cardiff City left-back Jamilu Collins and West Brom's Semi Ajayi are in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

Completing the UK-based players invited are Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo and Brentford's Frank Onyeka.

Bayer Leverkusen's English-born winger Nathan Tella has received his first-ever call-up to the Super Eagles after pledging his international future to the three-time African champions.

Collins makes a return after a long lay-off due to injury and Spanish-based striker Sadiq Umar also makes a return after a long absence.

The Super Eagles kick-start their race to the huge houseparty in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada in 2026 with a session against the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo next week Thursday, and then fly to Rwanda for a clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare on Monday, 20th November.

The 20,000-capacity Huye Stadium, located in the city of Butare which is 135 kilometres south of the Rwandan capital, Kigali, has an artificial turf.

Zimbabwe has adopted Rwanda as home for the qualifiers as no stadium in the southern African nation has been deemed fit to host the FIFA World Cup qualifying games.

Super Eagles squad for WCQ

Goalkeepers (3): Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio, Italy)

Defenders (8): 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 (4): Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards (8): 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)

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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