Osimhen and Nwabali Missing as Eric Chelle Names 23-Man Super Eagles Squad for Iran, Jordan Clashes
In a move that has sparked intense debate among football fans, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has excluded star striker Victor Osimhen and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from the Nigerian squad for this month's international friendlies.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the 23-man list on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Despite the absence of the high-profile duo, the squad remains formidable, featuring captain Wilfred Ndidi, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, and Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.
The NFF also announced a significant venue change; the matches against Iran and Jordan, originally scheduled for Amman, have been moved to Antalya, Turkey, due to the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.
Key Call-ups and New Faces:
Goalkeeping Returns: Udinese’s Maduka Okoye and Greece-based Adeleye Adebayo return to the fold to fill the void left by Nwabali.
Fresh Blood: Scotland-based defender Emmanuel Oluwasegun Fernandez, Germany-based forward Philip Otele, and KRC Genk’s Collins Yira Sor have earned their first-ever senior invitations.
Attacking Depth: The list includes Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, and Paul Onuachu.
The Super Eagles will first face Iran on Friday, March 27, at 4:00 PM local time, followed by a clash with Jordan on Tuesday, March 31, at 8:00 PM.
Coach Chelle appears to be using these fixtures to test the squad's depth and integrate new talent ahead of upcoming competitive qualifiers.
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