Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has named a strong 24-man squad for Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, handing maiden invitations to Isaac James, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor while retaining the established core led by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and captain Wilfred Ndidi.
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The squad announcement brings an intriguing combination of experience, returning players and fresh blood as Nigeria prepare to begin another major qualification campaign.
Chelle has retained goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, as well as attacking stars Osimhen, Lookman, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.
But some of the biggest attention will fall on the newcomers.
Portugal-based defender Isaac James, striker George Ilenikhena and Austria-based forward Moses Usor have all been called into the senior national team for the first time, giving Chelle additional options as he begins shaping the Super Eagles for the road to AFCON 2027.
Ilenikhena’s inclusion had been anticipated in the build-up to the announcement, with the young striker among the players tipped to force their way into Chelle’s plans.
Usor had also been pushing strongly for an opportunity following his club performances, with his name increasingly entering the conversation around Nigeria’s attacking options.
There is also a significant return for Ola Aina.
The Nottingham Forest defender is back in the Super Eagles fold alongside Brentford’s Benjamin Fredricks, strengthening a defensive unit that also includes Bassey, Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Emmanuel Fernandez and Chibuike Nwaiwu.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has also earned another opportunity after emerging as one of the revelations around Nigeria’s Unity Cup campaign.
He will compete with Nwabali and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for a place between the posts.
Perhaps one of the most significant names on the list, however, is Osimhen.
The Galatasaray striker had emerged as a major fitness concern after suffering an injury at club level, raising questions over whether Chelle would have his leading marksman available for the opening qualifiers.
His inclusion in the 24-man squad will therefore provide encouragement as Nigeria prepare for two matches in the space of four days.
The Super Eagles begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29.
The opening fixture already carries considerable intrigue.
Madagascar coach Corentin Martins named his own 25-man squad on Thursday, handing maiden invitations to goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher and striker Roman Ferber while retaining experienced players including Rayan Raveloson and Loïc Lapoussin.
The Barea will arrive in Uyo with confidence after their recent run to the CHAN final.
Chelle, meanwhile, has ensured Nigeria will not be short of attacking options.
Alongside Osimhen, Lookman, Simon and Chukwueze, the coach has selected Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Ilenikhena and Usor.
Arokodare arrives in particularly impressive club form, having scored five goals and provided two assists in his opening seven appearances of the campaign for Ajax.
In midfield, Chelle has gone with a compact four-man selection of Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyedika and Onyeka, placing considerable responsibility on an experienced core.
Onyeka’s inclusion is another boost after concerns over an injury suffered while playing for Coventry City, although subsequent indications suggested the problem was not expected to rule him out of the qualifiers.
Nigeria will be desperate to begin strongly.
The Super Eagles are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania, with the qualification equation made more demanding by Tanzania’s automatic place at the finals as one of the three 2027 host nations.
That makes points against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau particularly valuable from the opening window.
After weeks of speculation about who would make Chelle’s squad, the coach has now shown his hand.
SUPER EAGLES 24-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa).
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Isaac James (Alverca, Portugal); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford, England); Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers, Scotland); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Frank Onyeka (Coventry City, England).
Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands); George Ilenikhena (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia); Moses Usor (LASK, Austria).
For the established stars, the task is to get Nigeria’s qualification campaign off to the right start.
For James, Ilenikhena and Usor, however, September could represent the beginning of something entirely new.
Chelle has kept faith with the Super Eagles’ biggest names — but by opening the door to three newcomers, he has also made it clear that reputation alone will not define the next chapter of his Nigeria team.
