Chelle names Ndidi, Lookman, Iwobi in 24-man Eagles squad for Tanzania
- Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle has picked a 24-man squad for this month's 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Tanzania.
- Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey are all included.
- Nigeria sit second in Group L and need wins in Uyo and Zanzibar to boost their ticket hopes.
Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for this month's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania's Taifa Stars.
Team captain Wilfred Ndidi leads the list, with Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru also called up, according to the squad released on Saturday.
Nigeria host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13 November. The team then travels for the return leg at Zanzibar's Amman Stadium on Tuesday, 17 November.
Why these two games matter
The Super Eagles are second in Group L. Only one team from the group qualifies for the finals, which Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will co-host next summer.
That means Nigeria need to win both matches to keep their chances of reaching the tournament in their own hands. Dropped points in either game would leave the team relying on other results.
For fans, it is a short window to see the squad together before the qualifiers reach their decisive stage.
Who is in the squad
In goal, Chelle picked Arthur Okonkwo of Charlton Athletic, Francis Uzoho of Omonia and Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United.
The defence includes Olaoluwa Aina, Benjamin Fredricks, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Abdullahi Bewene.
In midfield are Ndidi, Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf, Tochukwu Nnadi, Samson Tijani, Dele-Bashiru and Mubarak Suleiman.
Up front, Chelle called Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Lookman, Tolu Arokodare and Moses Usor.
The squad mixes long-standing internationals with newer faces based in Turkey, Czechia, Slovakia and elsewhere, a sign Chelle is widening his pool ahead of the qualifiers.
What happens next
The players are expected to report for camp before the Uyo match. After the first leg, the team flies to Zanzibar for the reverse fixture four days later.
Nigeria's group position will be clearer after those two results, with the qualifying race set to tighten as the finals hosts continue their own preparations.
