Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has stirred reactions with a major shake-up of his squad, leaving out star striker Victor Osimhen and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday that Chelle has named a 23-man squad for the matches, blending experienced players with a number of fresh faces as he continues to reshape the team.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi returns to lead the side, supported by key midfield figures Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka. In attack, Ademola Lookman is expected to take centre stage in Osimhen’s absence.
The omission of Osimhen and Nwabali headlines a wider overhaul of the squad that featured at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Chelle clearly using the fixtures to test new options and adjust his tactical setup.
Several other players from the AFCON pool have also been left out, including Amas Obasogie, Chidozie Awaziem, Ryan Alebiosu, Muhammed Usman, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Tochukwu Nnadi, Salim Fago Lawal, and Cyriel Dessers.
Nigeria will face Iran on March 27 before taking on Jordan on March 31. Both matches will now be played in Antalya, after being moved from Amman due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
In goal, Italy-based Maduka Okoye returns to the squad and is likely to challenge for the starting spot, alongside Adeleye Adebayo and Francis Uzoho.
Defensively, Chelle has opted for a mix of experience and new talent, recalling Semi Ajayi while handing a first senior call-up to Scotland-based Emmanuel Fernandez.
The midfield remains largely familiar, with Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru offering a balance of strength, creativity, and versatility.
Up front, responsibility is shared across multiple attacking options, including Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Chidera Ejuke, Paul Onuachu, and Akor Adams.
Two new faces, Germany-based Philip Otele and Belgium-based Collins Yira Sor, have also earned their first invitations after impressive performances at club level.
With this selection, Chelle appears focused on building depth and testing new combinations as the Super Eagles prepare for future competitions.
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