Lookman, Nwabali, Ajayi, Iwobi, 4 other Super Eagles players walking disciplinary tightrope v Lesotho

Of the twenty-two players named in the Super Eagles squad for their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Lesotho's Crocodiles, eight are walking a disciplinary tightrope, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi (both Fulham), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) and Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos) are all one yellow card away from suspension, having been booked in earlier rounds of the qualifiers.

Fullbacks Jamilu Collins, Sodiq Ismail and Bright Osayi-Samuel, along with striker Umar Sadiq, would have been in similar danger but were not included in the latest squad. 

Birmingham City defender Osayi-Samuel withdrew through injury, while the others were omitted by manager Eric Chelle.

According to Fifa's regulations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, any player who receives two cautions in separate matches is automatically suspended for the next game.

That means key starters such as Nwabali, Lookman, Ndidi, Bassey and Iwobi must keep their composure against Lesotho on Friday or risk missing next Tuesday's potentially decisive showdown with Gernot Rohr's Benin in Uyo.

Semi Ajayi could be drafted into the starting lineup should Chelle opt for a back-three system.

Interestingly, of the six teams in Group C, Nigeria remain the only side yet to have a player suspended during the qualifying campaign.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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