Victor Osimhen’s injury nightmare with Galatasaray has cost him a place in Nigeria’s next squad, as Eric Chelle announces his 23-man group for March friendlies against Iran and Jordan in Turkey.
Eric Chelle has named his Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s first international window since their third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and the biggest talking point is the absence of Victor Osimhen. The striker, who picked up a knock during Galatasaray’s Champions League exit against Liverpool at Anfield, has been left out of the 23-man group entirely.
The friendlies against Iran and Jordan were originally scheduled for Amman, but an escalation of military conflict in the Middle East has forced a change of venue. Both matches will now take place in Antalya, Turkey, with Nigeria facing Iran on March 27 and Jordan on March 31.
Osimhen Out, New Faces In
Osimhen’s omission is not entirely surprising given his injury situation, but it still raises questions heading into the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. The forward had been in the form of his career before the Anfield setback, scoring 18 goals for Galatasaray across all competitions this season. Chelle will have to plan around his absence for now and hope the medical reports from Turkey are positive.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is also missing, though that absence is more straightforward to explain. He has been without a club since leaving South African side Chippa United after the AFCON tournament and has no meaningful game time to justify a call-up at this stage.
The three new faces in the squad are the most exciting element of this announcement. Emmanuel Fernandez of Glasgow Rangers earns his first call-up after consistent performances in the Scottish Premiership. Philip Otele, a forward playing for Hamburger SV in Germany’s second tier, gets his opportunity after a strong run of form. Collins Yira Sor of KRC Genk in Belgium completes the trio of debutants, rewarded for standing out in one of Europe’s more competitive domestic leagues.
Familiar Names Retain Their Places
Chelle has kept faith with the core of his AFCON squad. Captain Wilfred Ndidi, now at Besiktas in Turkey, retains his place alongside Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman, who has been in outstanding form for Atletico Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League. Lookman’s recent assist in Atletico’s UCL quarter-final qualification keeps him firmly in the spotlight as one of Nigeria’s most important players right now.
Returning players include Maduka Okoye, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams, and Paul Onuachu. The squad has a good blend of AFCON experience and fresh legs, which suits the low-stakes friendly format Chelle is working with here. Nigerian fans can follow all squad news and match previews on FootballInNigeria.com.ng, and those looking to place a bet on the Super Eagles’ upcoming friendlies can use the Bet9ja registration promo code YOHAIG for a welcome bonus when signing up.
What These Matches Mean for the Eagles
These friendlies matter more than they might appear. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers will start later this year, and Chelle is using this window to test squad depth and look at players who were not part of the AFCON setup. The three debutants in particular will be under the microscope, knowing that a strong performance here could cement a place in the qualifying squad.
Osimhen’s eventual return to the Eagles setup is a question rather than a certainty at this point. If surgery is required following his Anfield injury, his availability for the early rounds of World Cup qualifying becomes genuinely unclear. Chelle is wise to plan around his absence rather than wait for him.
Full 23-Man Super Eagles Squad
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese), Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC)
Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague), Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Frank Onyeka (Coventry), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Moses Simon (Paris FC), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Akor Adams (Sevilla), Philip Otele (Hamburger SV), Collins Yira Sor (KRC Genk)
📌 Did You Know?
- Emmanuel Fernandez, who earns his first Super Eagles call-up from Glasgow Rangers, was born in Scotland to Nigerian parents and qualifies for Nigeria through his father. He is the first player from the Scottish Premiership in the Eagles squad in over a decade.
- Philip Otele plays for Hamburger SV, one of the most historic clubs in German football. Hamburg are the only club to have played in every season of the Bundesliga without relegation until they were finally relegated in 2018, and they are currently pushing for a return to the top flight.
- Collins Yira Sor at KRC Genk follows a well-worn path for Nigerian talent. Genk’s academy and first team have produced or developed several players who went on to represent Nigeria, including Wilfred Ndidi himself, who played for Genk before joining Leicester City.
- The decision to move the matches from Amman, Jordan to Antalya, Turkey follows a broader trend of Nigerian football being affected by geopolitical instability in the Middle East, a region that hosts several Nigerian players’ clubs.
- Ademola Lookman, kept in the squad despite a packed schedule at Atletico Madrid, became the first Nigerian player to score a hat-trick in a major European cup final when he scored three goals against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final.
- Stanley Nwabali, missing from this squad after leaving Chippa United, became a national hero during AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast when his penalty saves helped Nigeria reach the final. His current clubless status highlights the precarious career path for Nigerian goalkeepers outside Europe’s top leagues.
- Nigeria’s last World Cup appearance was in 2018 in Russia, where they reached the group stage. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest in history with 48 teams, giving more African nations a route to qualification than ever before.
