Chelle Drops Osimhen, Nwabali Ahead Of S/Eagles’ Friendlies

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has omitted key players, including Victor Osimhen and Stanley
Nwabali, from Nigeria’s squad for upcoming international friendlies.
The decision was confirmed on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, when the Nigeria Football Federation
released a 23-man list for matches against Iran and Jordan.

According to the federation, Chelle retained a core of experienced players while introducing new faces
as part of efforts to reassess the team following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Notable inclusions in the squad include captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman, with
Lookman expected to lead the attack in Osimhen’s absence.
The omission of Osimhen and Nwabali headlines a broader reshuffle of the squad, which also leaves out
several players who were part of Nigeria’s recent AFCON pool. Chelle’s selection is seen as a move to
test new options and deepen competition across positions.

In goal, Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye and Francis Uzoho have been selected to compete for the
starting spot, while new call-ups such as Emmanuel Fernandez, Philip Otele and Collins Yira Sor have
been handed opportunities to impress.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Iran on March 27, 2026, before taking on Jordan on March 31,
2026, with both matches to be played in Antalya, Turkey, after being moved from Amman due to
security concerns in the Middle East.

The friendlies are expected to serve as key preparatory fixtures for Nigeria as the team begins rebuilding
and refining its squad ahead of future competitive engagements.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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