Breaking!!! Nathan Tella called-up for Super Eagles

 

Nigeria's national football team, the Super Eagles, recently announced their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Notably absent from the list were experienced players

Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong, marking the third consecutive time that manager Jose Peseiro has overlooked them.

On the positive side, Bayer Leverkusen's Nathan Tella received his first call-up to the national team at the age of 24. Tella, born in England, had an outstanding season in the Championship with Burnley before securing a five-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the 2023–24 season. His inclusion in the squad aligns with his breakout performance, and he has been sharing the field with Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface.

The squad announcement also revealed the return of Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who missed the previous warm-up games in October due to a groin injury. The 23-player list, chosen by head coach Jose Peseiro, also saw the omission of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and the injured trio of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Wilfred Ndidi.

The upcoming World Cup qualifiers are scheduled for October 16 and 19, with the Super Eagles facing the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo and then travelling to Rwanda for a match against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare on November 19. It's worth noting that Zimbabwe has designated Rwanda as their home ground for the qualifiers due to the absence of a suitable stadium in their own country. The Huye Stadium, located 135 kilometres south of Kigali, features an artificial turf and has a capacity of 20,000 spectators.

ALL INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio, Italy)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales)

Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany).