Veteran forward Ahmed Musa has been called up to the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 must-win World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, returning to the team after almost a year of absence.

The Kano Pillars player was named in the 39-man provisional squad which included the familiar, new faces and forgotten.

Musa, who is Nigeria’s highest goalscorer at the World Cup and the team’s captain, was in the side that featured for the Super Eagles when they clinched silver at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) early last year. He did not, however, play any match.

But he will be among the options for the Super Eagles ahead of the all-important clash for a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Coach Eric Chelle who since his appointment last year has been spotted watching the domestic league, has understandably called up some Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) stars for the games, offering more options to the Super Eagles who are in dire need of a revival to qualify for the competition billed for the US, Canada and Mexico.

Kayode Bankole of Remo Stars, Rangers’ Ifeanyi Onyebuchi; Papa Daniel Mustapha (formerly of Niger Tornadoes), and Musa were the home-based players invited by the Malian gaffer.

As expected, the squad included the core of the team that reached the AFCON final. Reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman; Victor Boniface; Victor Osimhen; Ola Aina; defence strongman William Troost-Ekong; Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi; Ola Aina; and Alex Iwobi have all been called up.

Joe Aribo, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, and Jordan Torunarigha, all long-term absentees, were listed for the ties against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The list will be pruned to 23 players before the games on Rwanda and Zimbabwe on March 21 and 25, in that order.

Nigeria are currently fourth in the five-team Group A African qualification series for the 2026 World Cup. The 2013 champions have managed just three points from four games played so far.

Rwanda led the group with seven points followed by South Africa who also have the same points but have an inferior goal difference.

Nigeria’s Provisional Squad for Rwanda, Zimbabwe World Cup Qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni, Cyprus); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent FC, Belgium); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough FC, England); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Southampton FC, England); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain). (Channels TV)