Nigeria national football team players in October 2026 include captain Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Head coach Éric Chelle named them in his latest 24-man Super Eagles squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Below you get the full squad list with every player’s club, the stars, the Group L standings and the next Nigeria games.
TL;DR
- Coach: Éric Chelle, in charge since January 2025.
- Captain: Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş).
- Star players: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid), Alex Iwobi (Fulham).
- Number one goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United).
- Latest results: Nigeria beat Madagascar 2-1, lost 3-0 in Guinea-Bissau and drew 3-3 with Russia.
- Standing: second in AFCON 2027 qualifying Group L, three points behind Guinea-Bissau.
- Next games: home and away against Tanzania in the 9–17 November 2026 window.
Nigeria National Football Team Players (Super Eagles 2026)
The Nigeria national football team, known as the Super Eagles, is coached by Éric Chelle. His latest competitive squad, named on 17 September 2026 for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, holds these 24 players, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
| Position | Players and clubs |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Maduka Okoye (Udinese), Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic) |
| Defenders | Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos), Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford), Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor), Isaac James (Alverca) |
| Midfielders | Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş, captain), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt), Frank Onyeka (Coventry City) |
| Forwards | Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan), Moses Simon (Paris FC), Akor Adams (Venezia), Tolu Arokodare (Ajax), George Ilenikhena (Al-Ittihad), Moses Usor (LASK) |
Notable stars:
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray): leading striker and Nigeria’s main goal threat.
- Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş): team captain and defensive midfielder.
- Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid): creative forward who attacks from the left.
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United): first-choice goalkeeper and the AFCON 2025 shootout hero.
Information based on recent Super Eagles squads named by Éric Chelle as of October 2026, cross-checked against the NFF and Transfermarkt’s Nigeria page.
How Chelle Picks the Nigeria Squad
Chelle builds each Nigeria national team list around a fixed spine: Nwabali in goal, Bassey in defence, Ndidi and Iwobi in midfield, and Osimhen up front. He then rotates the edges. Club form, minutes played and injury reports decide the last five or six places, which is why names such as Usor, Isaac James and Ilenikhena appeared in September. He also uses friendlies to test depth, as the Russia trip proved. Expect a similar balance when he names the Tanzania squad, usually about 10 to 14 days before the window opens.
Current Nigeria Players by Position
This Super Eagles squad list mixes senior leaders with newcomers. Here is how each line works.
Goalkeepers
Nwabali keeps his place after his penalty saves won Nigeria bronze at AFCON 2025. Okoye gives Chelle Serie A experience, and Okonkwo earned his call after a strong Unity Cup.
Defenders
Bassey and Aina form the experienced core. Fernandez, Fredrick and Nwaiwu bring youth, while Portugal-based Isaac James received his first call-up. Ajayi still adds height at set pieces.
Midfielders
Ndidi screens the back four, and Onyedika covers when the captain rests. Iwobi links midfield to attack, and Onyeka adds running power.
Forwards
Osimhen leads the line when fit. Lookman, Chukwueze and Simon supply width, while Adams and Arokodare offer different styles at centre-forward. Usor scored on his debut against Madagascar.
Nigeria National Football Team Top Players in 2026
Four players shape most Super Eagles games. Osimhen remains the reference point in attack; read our Victor Osimhen net worth guide for his Galatasaray contract. Ndidi wears the armband and sets the defensive tempo. Lookman turns games with his dribbling and finishing. Nwabali earned his status with big tournament saves.
Iwobi deserves a mention too. He plays more minutes than almost anyone under Chelle because he fills three roles: number eight, number ten and wide forward.
All Nigeria Players and Their Club: Where the Squad Plays
England supplies a third of the September squad. Eight of the 24 players play there, and Fulham alone provide Bassey and Iwobi; see our Fulham vs West Ham cup report for a look at their club side.
| Country | Players | Count |
|---|---|---|
| England | Okonkwo, Bassey, Aina, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel, Fredrick, Iwobi, Onyeka | 8 |
| Turkey | Osimhen, Ndidi, Nwaiwu | 3 |
| Italy | Okoye, Chukwueze, Adams | 3 |
| Spain, Germany, France, Greece, Scotland, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria | Lookman, Onyedika, Simon, Onyemaechi, Fernandez, Isaac James, Arokodare, Usor | 8 |
| Saudi Arabia and South Africa | Ilenikhena, Nwabali | 2 |
That spread matters for Nigeria soccer players’ fitness. Turkish and English fixtures pile up in autumn, so Chelle often loses one or two names to injury before a window. Several of these players also feature in European competition, which you can follow in our Champions League 2026/27 table. Only Nwabali plays club football in Africa, and the Russia squad showed Chelle will still look at the Nigeria Premier Football League for depth.
The Experimental Russia Squad: Who Else Got a Call?
Chelle named a second 24-man list for the friendly in Russia on 6 October. It handed chances to home-based and fringe players: goalkeepers Michael Atata (Ikorodu City) and Samuel James (SJK), defenders Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers), Abdullahi Bewene (Baník Ostrava) and Victory Akpe (Basel), and forwards Peter Edokpolor (Benfica), Abubakar Umar (Famalicão) and Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Králové).
Injuries and clubs refusing to release players cut the group to 19, The Guardian Nigeria reported. Kelechi Iheanacho, Peter Edokpolor and Akor Adams scored as Nigeria came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3, BBC Sport recorded. Nine players made their debut that night.
For nigeria football players transfer national team news, our football injury updates page tracks fitness before every international window.
Nigeria National Football Team Standings and Games
Nigeria sit second in Group L. Only the best non-host team qualifies for AFCON 2027, because co-hosts Tanzania qualify automatically, CAF confirmed.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guinea-Bissau | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| 2 | Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| 3 | Tanzania | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| 4 | Madagascar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Date | Game | Result or status |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2026 | Nigeria vs Madagascar (AFCON qualifier) | Won 2-1 |
| 29 Sep 2026 | Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria (AFCON qualifier) | Lost 3-0 |
| 6 Oct 2026 | Russia vs Nigeria (friendly) | Drew 3-3 |
| 9–17 Nov 2026 | Nigeria vs Tanzania, then Tanzania vs Nigeria | Upcoming; CAF to confirm final dates and kick-off times |
| 22–30 Mar 2027 | Final two Group L games | Upcoming |
Looking for the nigeria game today? Check ChampSquads scores and fixtures on matchday, and we update this page after each window.
Why Nigeria Missed the 2026 World Cup
Nigeria will not be at the 2026 World Cup. Chelle’s side reached the CAF play-off final, where DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in November 2025. Our Super Eagles coach profile covers that campaign and the failed eligibility protest. Fans who still want the tournament can follow it through our highest goal scorer at the World Cup guide.
Nigeria National Football Team Players 2022, 2022/23 and 2018
Squads change fast in Nigerian football, so here is a quick look back.
- Nigeria national football team players 2018: Gernot Rohr took a young squad to Russia. John Obi Mikel captained, Ahmed Musa scored twice against Iceland, and Ndidi, Iwobi and Francis Uzoho all started. Argentina knocked Nigeria out in the group stage.
- Nigeria national football team players 2022: Ghana ended World Cup hopes on away goals in March 2022, despite a squad led by Osimhen, Ndidi and William Troost-Ekong.
- Nigeria national football team players 2022/23: José Peseiro rebuilt the team. That group, with Osimhen, Lookman and Troost-Ekong, reached the AFCON 2023 final and lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in February 2024.
Ndidi and Iwobi are the clearest links between the 2018 squad and today.
Nigeria 23-Man Squad Players Names and Pictures
Many fans still search for a “23-man squad”, but that number belongs to older tournaments. CAF now allows larger tournament squads, and Chelle names 24 players for each qualifying window. The 1200×600 graphic at the top shows Osimhen and Ndidi, and the squad card above lists every name and club.
Nigeria Women’s National Football Team Players
The Super Falcons are a separate team with their own coach and squad. Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie headline the current group. Read our AFCON Women 2026 results for their latest tournament. Soccer in Nigeria also extends beyond football; see our Nigeria basketball team guide for D’Tigers and D’Tigress.
Betting on the Super Eagles (18+)
Squad news moves Nigeria prices more than anything else. An Osimhen absence or a young, experimental line-up can lengthen the odds on a Super Eagles win. Before you back the nigeria soccer team against Tanzania, read our football betting guide, check this week’s correct football prediction picks, and compare operators in our most reliable betting sites list. ChampSquads’ weekly predictions give a second view.
18+ only. Betting carries real financial risk, and no tip is guaranteed. Set a budget, never chase losses, and visit our responsible gambling page if betting stops being fun.
Sources (2026)
- Nigeria Football Federation (thenff.com): squad lists of 17 September 2026 and the Russia match report of 6 October 2026.
- Transfermarkt: Nigeria national team page, for clubs.
- CAF (cafonline.com): AFCON 2027 qualifying draw, format and windows.
- BBC Sport and ESPN: Russia vs Nigeria, 6 October 2026.
- The Guardian Nigeria, Punch and Afrik-Foot: withdrawals, squad news and Group L fixtures.
- Earlier photonfire.com coverage of Éric Chelle and AFCON 2025.
FAQ
Who is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer?
Rashidi Yekini holds the record with 37 goals for the Super Eagles. He also scored Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal, against Bulgaria at USA 1994.
How many times has Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations?
Nigeria have won AFCON three times: in 1980 on home soil, in 1994 in Tunisia and in 2013 in South Africa under Stephen Keshi.
How many World Cups have Nigeria played in?
Nigeria have played at six World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018. Their best finish is the round of 16, reached in 1994, 1998 and 2014.
What was Nigeria’s biggest Olympic football success?
Nigeria’s U-23 “Dream Team” won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, beating Brazil and Argentina on the way. It remains the first Olympic football gold won by an African nation.
