Eight things to note on Super Eagles' 23-man squad for 2026 WCQs against Rwanda, Zimbabwe

The Nigeria Football Federation have announced a 23-man roster ahead of the Super Eagles' 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda's Wasps and Zimbabwe's warriors. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com's editorial staff brings you eight things to note on the roster : 

1) The roster has an average age of 26 years as of Tuesday, March 11. William Troost-Ekong is the oldest player at 31 years and 191 days and the youngest is goalkeeper Kayode Bankole at 22 years and 146 days.

2) The twenty-three players represent clubs in fourteen different countries: England (5), Germany (2), Italy (2), Belgium (2), Nigeria (2), Turkey (2), South Africa (1), Tanzania (1), Saudi Arabia (1), Greece (1), Czech Republic (1), United States (1), France (1), Spain (1).

3) Five players are uncapped at international level namely Amas Obasogie, Kayode Bankole, Igoh Ogbu, Papa Daniel and Tolu Arokodare.

4) Eight players are products of the Golden Eaglets: Bruno Onyemaechi, Igoh Ogbu, Wilfred Ndidi, Papa Daniel, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Tolu Arokodare.

5) The roster features six players who were born abroad The dual nationals are Troost-Ekong (Netherlands), Calvin Bassey (Italy), Ola Aina (England), Joe Aribo (England), Ademola Lookman (England), Nathan Tella (England).

6) Fulham central defender Calvin Bassey has gone the distance in every single game contested by the Super Eagles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the only player to do so.

7) Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo has been called up to the national team for the first time since the conclusion of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

8) Three players have featured in the World Cup in the past. They are Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi.

Super Eagles 23-man squad for WCQs against Rwanda and Zimbabwe

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: 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); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: 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); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: 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); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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