Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle has named goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in a provisional list of 39 players for this month’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
There are also goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar. Defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams are named for the first time ever, while there could be returns for home-based goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defender Jordan Torunarigha, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella, if they eventually make the final list of 23.
Nigeria, fifth on the group C log behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic and Lesotho, square up to leaders Amavubi of Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st Marchbefore taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
Nigeria’s provisional list of 39 Players for Rwanda, Zimbabwe
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).
Upgrade of facilities for Niger Delta Sports Festival competitions advances
Organisers of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) have made reasonable progress in the upgrade of some of the sporting facilities identified for competitions. A turning point in the ongoing facelift of the facilities has been the effective deployment of Engineers and other support workers. According to the Chairman of the Facility and Transport subcommittee, Dr Ochuko Igbigbisie, the major work is the refurbishment of the Uyo Township Stadium Swimming Pool. “It is an Olympic size 9-lane pool but many of the Technical facilities have been vandalised. “
The work started today with the draining of the water to ascertain the condition of the floor”, Igbigbisie told Journalists after an inspection round in Uyo. On an upbeat note, the Facilities subcommittee Chairman said that the preliminary report of Engineers showed that the pool is not leaking and can be revived. “Our major fears was alayed when the Engineers handling the swimming pool upgrade declared that the pool is not leaking which would have posed an extended threat to timely repairs”, Igbigbisie further explained. He assured that the facility will be ready in a week’s time to the games. On the state of some other facilities like tennis and basketball courts, he disclosed that they would require reflooring and other touch-ups.
The refurbishment of moribund facilities in the host state is a major collateral benefit the festival, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) brings to host states. “The organisers will not be going away with these upgraded facilities at the end of the festival, that is the essence of hosting the event and benefitting from the NDDC intervention through sports”, Igbigbisie added. The NDSF starts from April 1-8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and will feature over 3000 athletes competing in 17 games. Dunamis Icon is the project consultants.
