The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stated that Super Eagles and Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen, Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, and AC Milan’s new boy Samuel Chukwueze will not participate in the team’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Warriors of Zimbabwe and the Crocodiles of Lesotho.
Head coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro has named his 23-player squad for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Wilfred Ndidi are the notable absentees from the list. According to the NFF, Osimhen trio names were omitted because of the injury each sustained.
Nigeria drawn in Group C of the qualification round alongside South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, will commence their campaign for the 2026 World Cup when they host Lesotho on November 16 before flying to Rwanda to play Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare three days later.
The 23-player squad
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)
