The head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has named 23 players ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and the Benin Republic.

Nigeria is hanging on to the faintest hope of qualification following FIFA’s verdict on South Africa, deducting three points and three goals from South Africa’s accrued points.

This verdict leaves Chelle’s men in third place in the group with 11 points, now three points behind Benin Republic and South Africa.

Captain William Troost-Ekong has been called up despite his own goal in the 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana the last time out.

Goal Keepers

Stanley Nwabali

Amas Obasogie

Adebayo Adeleye

Defenders

Felix Agu

Bruno Onyemaechi

Bright Osayi-Samuel

Semi Ajayi

William Troost-Ekong

Calvin Bassey

Benjamin Fredrick

Midfielders

Alex Iwobi

Wilfred Ndidi

Frank Onyeka

Alhassan Yusuf

Forwards

Simon Moses

Ademola Lookman

Tolu Arokodare

Victor Osimhen

Terem Moffi

Cyriel Dessers

Samuel Chukwueze

Akor Adams

Ola Olusegun

TVC previously reported that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa match against Lesotho played on 21 March 2025 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations.

Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ruled that the representative team of South Africa must forfeit the match in question, resulting in a default score of 3-0. (TVC News)