Super Eagles interim head coach, Austin Eguavoen, has officially named his squad for Nigeria’s final two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches in November.
The team will face Benin Republic and Rwanda in back-to-back games, aiming to secure maximum points to seal their qualification for the tournament.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen—who holds the title of reigning Africa Player of the Year—and dynamic winger Moses Simon headline a 24-man squad eager to secure six points in these crucial encounters.
Coach Eguavoen has also included notable goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, along with defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze.
Newcomer Victor Collins, a home-based defender from Nasarawa United, is set to make his debut with the national team, while Sadiq Umar from Real Sociedad makes a welcome return to the Super Eagles squad after a period of absence.
Defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are also included, and France-based Gabriel Osho, recently recovering from injury, is hoping to make his first competitive appearance for Nigeria after missing out on a summer call-up.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to depart for Abidjan on November 11, where they’ll take on Benin Republic’s Cheetahs at Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny on November 14.
Following that fixture, they’ll return to Uyo to host Rwanda’s Amavubi on November 18 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Topping Group D, the Super Eagles need just one point against Benin to guarantee a spot in the final tournament, reaching an 11-point tally that only Rwanda could theoretically match.
However, Nigeria’s advantage is strengthened by seven goals scored and none conceded, a tally that includes the three goals awarded by the CAF Disciplinary Board from the abandoned Matchday 4 against Libya.
Rwanda, by contrast, enters the final two rounds with a five-point total and a one-goal deficit, leaving Nigeria in a favorable position.
Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy), Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)
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)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
