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.
Update: Debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor both scored in the 2-1 win over Madagascar. Next up is the trip to Bissau: read our Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria prediction.
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. The two uncapped call-ups who made the headlines, Samuel James and Victory Akpe, are not in this group: they were named in a separate squad for the Russia friendly.
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, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all retain their places. Update (23 Sep): Victor Osimhen was originally named but has since been ruled out of both qualifiers with a thigh strain, and Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been called up to replace him.
With training now underway in Uyo, most of this squad has already checked into camp — see our Super Eagles camp update for who has arrived and who is still travelling.
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.No. Chelle named two separate squads. This 24-man group is for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau qualifiers only. The uncapped pair who drew the headlines, Finland-based goalkeeper Samuel James and Switzerland-based defender Victory Akpe, were called up for the separate, more experimental squad that faces Russia in a friendly in Nizhny Novgorod on 6 October, not for these qualifiers. For that game, see our Nigeria vs Russia friendly coverage.
Nigeria open their Group L campaign at home to Madagascar’s Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 25 September, with kick-off at 5pm WAT. 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, playing without Osimhen means someone else has to take on the goalscoring burden, so 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.
Chelle confirmed the squad split between the AFCON qualifiers and the October Russia friendly, with James and Akpe among the standout new names in the Russia friendly squad.
Nigeria’s second qualifier is now previewed too — see our Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau match preview for the away-leg form guide.
Nigeria aren’t the only West African side in qualifying action this window — Ghana’s Black Stars face Gambia in their own AFCON 2027 qualifier on 29 September.
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?
No. Osimhen has been ruled out of both qualifiers with a thigh strain, and Taiwo Awoniyi has replaced him in the squad.
Are Samuel James and Victory Akpe in the qualifiers squad?
No. The two uncapped players were called up for the separate squad that plays Russia in a friendly on 6 October, not for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau qualifiers.
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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