Nigeria has named a 24-man squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup playoff, recalling Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, for the knockout tie against the Panthers of Gabon.
The Super Eagles’ roster also sees the notable return of long-time absentee, Sevilla forward Chidera Ejuke, and Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika. Okoye makes his comeback after serving a two-month ban related to involvement in betting activities, while Onyedika is back in the squad having recovered from the injury that kept him out of the final World Cup qualifiers.
The squad features a strong core of regulars instrumental to the team’s progress, including Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, captain William Troost-Ekong of Al-Kholood, and Fulham’s duo, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze.
They are joined by key players like Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), and Simon Moses (Paris FC). The selection also highlights emerging talents such as fast-rising defender Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC) and forwards Akor Adams (Sevilla) and Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Every invited player is expected to fly into Morocco and converge in Rabat on Monday, November 10th. Nigeria will face Gabon in the first semi-final of the playoffs at the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat, Morocco on November 13.
The winner of that match will progress to play either Cameroon or DR Congo in the final, with the victor earning Africa’s only ticket for the intercontinental playoff scheduled for next year.
Nigeria’s Full 24-Man Squad for 2026 World Cup Playoff
The full list of players invited for the World Cup playoff includes:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars), and Maduka Okoya (Udinese FC).
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto), and Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC).
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC), Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC), Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC), and Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge).
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC), Simon Moses (Paris FC), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Akor Adams (Sevilla FC), and Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod).
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