While the Super Eagles have just two players from the domestic league in their squad, Rwanda’s coach, Amrouche, in naming his first ever Rwandan squad has called up 13 local players and 15 others from the foreign leagues.

Nigeria will face the Group C surprise leaders in Kigali on Friday. Amrouche has handed Rutsiro FC striker Yves Habimana his debut callup following his impressive performances in the domestic league campaign, where he has scored eight goals and provided six assists so far this season.

Rwanda leads Group C of the World Cup qualifiers with seven points and a two-goal surplus after four games.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are without a win so far and are fifth in a log of six. They have three points, four behind Rwanda and a goal deficit.

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Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has named four new players in his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25.

Bilal Nadir, Chemsedine Taibi, Hamza Igamane, and Omar El Hilali are among the new faces in the squad, as the Atlas Lions continue to integrate young talent into the national team.

While new players make their way in, two key names will be absent from the squad.

Hakim Ziyech and Ayoub El Kaabi have been ruled out due to injuries. Ziyech, one of Morocco’s most creative playmakers, and El Kaabi, a proven goal scorer, leave significant gaps in the squad, forcing Regragui to rethink his attacking options.

The squad also sees Jawad El Yamiq and goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid returning after missing previous international matches.

Their comeback strengthens the team’s depth, particularly in defence and goalkeeping.

Morocco is currently leading Group E in the qualifiers and will be looking to extend their dominance as they edge closer to securing a place at the 2026 World Cup.

The Atlas Lions will play both matches in Oujda, taking advantage of home support as they seek six points to consolidate their position.

With the absence of Ziyech and El Kaabi, the attacking responsibility will fall on Youssef En-Nesyri, Soufiane Rahimi, Brahim Diaz, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.

After Morocco’s historic 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final run, expectations remain high, and Regragui has maintained a balance between experienced leaders and emerging talents.

Key figures such as Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, and Nayef Aguerd remain crucial to the squad’s ambitions.

With a strong squad and home advantage, Morocco is expected to dominate both matches, reinforcing their reputation as one of Africa’s strongest footballing nations

Morocco’s 26-Man Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), El Mehdi Benabid (FUS Rabat).

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Wahda), Abdel Abqar (Deportivo Alavés), Jamal Harkass (AS FAR), Omar El Hilali (Espanyol), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich U19).

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United), Azzedine Ounahi (Marseille), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Bilal El Khannouss (Genk), Oussama Targhalline (Le Havre), Bilal Nadir (Nice).

Forwards: Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco), Osame Sahraoui (Heerenveen), Hamza Igamane (Wydad AC), Chemsedine Taibi (FUS Rabat).

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The unavailability of Bayer Leverkusen attacker, Nathan Tella, from the 23-man squad of the Super Eagles that will face Rwanda on Friday has been welcomed in Rwanda.

Lead newspaper in the country, The New Times celebrated as the lead story on its sports page, the pulling out of Tella.

Tella was an unused substitute in Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday owing to injury.

Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle has promptly moved by calling up Jordan Torunarigha as a replacement.

Torunarigha, who plays for Gent in Belgium, is a son of former Shooting Stars player, Ojokojo Torunarigha.

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