Super Eagles coach Éric Sékou Chelle Tuesday revealed his list of final 23 players for the World Cup qualifier ties against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Two players who were hopefully looking forward to rejoining the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa and Cyriel Dessers did not make the team for the must win games March 17 in Kigali and March 24 in Uyo. Nathan Tella, however, was lucky to make the cut.
Dessers has been in fine form for his club Rangers this season scoring 22 goals in all competitions. Only Victor Osimhen has scored more than Dessers among the strikers invited by Eric Chelle for the crucial ties.
Dessers has played six times for Nigeria and scored two goals. Nigeria football fans have queried his exclusion wondering why Sadiq Umar who has scored five times in his loan spell at Valencia.
The games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe will be a test for the French/Malian born coach whose appointment shocked Nigeria late in 2024. He is expected to make a good selection and make the team work to deliver result.
LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)
