Eric Chelle has named a 24-man Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers, recalling Stanley Nwabali and handing first call-ups to Samuel James and Victory Akpe.
Eric Chelle has named his Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s opening two matches of AFCON 2027 qualifying, and there’s a familiar face back between the posts. Stanley Nwabali returns to the goalkeeping mix, while two uncapped players get their first taste of senior international football.
The 24-man list was announced on Thursday ahead of Group L fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. As a result, Nigerian fans finally know exactly who’ll be wearing the green and white when qualifying gets under way this month.
Chelle has largely kept faith with the core group that’s carried the Super Eagles through recent qualifying cycles. Captain Wilfred Ndidi anchors the midfield, while Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all retain their places. That said, Osimhen’s inclusion comes with a fitness question mark after his recent groin injury for Galatasaray, so his final availability for Uyo is still worth watching.
Nwabali’s recall is arguably the headline move. The goalkeeper, who was Nigeria’s first-choice at the last AFCON, had fallen out of recent squads, and his return gives Chelle a settled option between the sticks alongside the competition already building at the position.
Beyond the familiar names, Chelle has handed maiden senior call-ups to Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe. Both are diaspora-eligible players who’ve been scouted through Nigeria’s ongoing push to widen its talent pool abroad. Meanwhile, it’s a reminder that squad depth, not just star names, will decide how comfortably Nigeria negotiates this qualifying group.
Nigeria open their Group L campaign at home to Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 25 September. Four days later, the Super Eagles travel to face Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs on Tuesday, 29 September. Consequently, a strong start at home in Uyo will matter a great deal before the away trip.
These two results will shape how comfortably Nigeria sits in Group L heading into the October international window, when a separate, more experimental squad is due to face Russia in a friendly.
For a squad that missed out on the 2026 World Cup, every qualifying window now carries extra weight. Getting maximum points from Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau — two sides Nigeria should be favoured against on paper — would go a long way toward settling nerves early in the campaign. However, Osimhen’s fitness and the settling-in period for two uncapped players mean this squad isn’t without its uncertainties.
Fans can follow team news and further squad updates on our Super Eagles squad guide, and catch up on the injury situation in our piece on Osimhen’s fitness ahead of the qualifiers. For the bigger picture on the group and what’s at stake, see our AFCON 2027 qualifying guide.
According to Premium Times, Chelle confirmed the squad split between the AFCON qualifiers and the October Russia friendly, with James and Akpe among the standout new names.
When does Nigeria play its first AFCON 2027 qualifier?
Nigeria hosts Madagascar on Friday, 25 September, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Is Victor Osimhen fit for the qualifiers?
Osimhen is in the squad, but he’s carrying a groin injury from Galatasaray duty, so his final fitness will need to be confirmed closer to the match.
Who are the new call-ups in the Super Eagles squad?
Goalkeeper Samuel James (Finland-based) and defender Victory Akpe (Switzerland-based) have both earned their first senior call-ups.
Who is Nigeria’s goalkeeper for the qualifiers?
Stanley Nwabali has been recalled and is back in contention as Nigeria’s senior goalkeeping option.
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