Ahmed Musa and Sadiq Umar are returnees to the Super Eagles as head coach, Éric Sékou Chelle named his first assembly since he was named Nigeria’s helmsman in January.

He 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 andforwards Cyriel Dessers andNathan 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, 21^st March before 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)

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It is 14 days to the resumption of the 2026 World Cup qualifying series in Africa. Group C leaders, Rwanda will be hoping to consolidate as they host Nigeria who on the other hand are hoping to rebuild their tattered campaign.

In their last encounter last November, Rwanda inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Nigeria in Uyo, the first time since both teams first met 20 years ago in 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

Significantly, both teams since November have experienced managerial changes, opting for African coaches other than their nationals.

While Nigeria opted for Mali’s Eric Chelle, Rwanda at the weekend announced the 56-year-old, Algerian,  Adel Amrouche as a replacement for Germany’s Frank Torsten Spittler whose contract was not renewed last December.

But the Algerian had once rejected handling Rwanda. Eleven years ago, Amrouche, who, like Nigeria’s Chelle Holds dual nationality as he is also a Belgian, posted on his Facebook page that he was not interested in handling the Amavubi of Rwanda.

“It’s not true that I am interested in the Amavubi job. I am happy with the current job of coaching the Kenyan national team, but I wish success to whoever gets the job. I believe in Rwanda, they have a coach in Rayon, who can take Amavubi to another level. Give coach Eymael the chance,” Amrouche said in his face book post.

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Ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match with Nigeria in Kigali, Rwanda has named Algeria’s Adel Amrouche as their new head coach. The contract is for two years.

Amrouche, 56, replaces Germany’s Frank Torsten Spittler whose contract wasn’t extended when it ended in December 2024.

Amrouche is not new to the East African terrain. His most recent job in the region was the Tanzanian national team which he handled from March 4, 2023 to January 19, 2024.

He has also previously coached Kenya and Burundi all within the CECAFA zone. This is the Algerian’s seventh national team job having also handled Botswana, Libya and Equatorial Guinea.

He had also handled two top-flight clubs in the continent, Daring Club Motema Pembe of DR Congo and Algeria’s   MC Algiers.

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