Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has left out Victor Osimhen, Maduka Okoye and Kelechi Iheanacho from his 24-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Tanzania. 

Chelle announced his selection on Saturday, November 7, with captain Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon among the established names retained for the two fixtures.

Your #SuperEagles squad for November camp! 🦅🇳🇬 https://t.co/esvK2dsjus

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 7, 2026

Osimhen’s omission follows a left knee injury sustained during Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League meeting with VfB Stuttgart. The Turkish club subsequently confirmed that the striker had undergone successful arthroscopic surgery, ruling him out of Nigeria’s November fixtures.

Okoye’s absence is another talking point, particularly as the competition for Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeping position comes under increasing scrutiny following Stanley Nwabali’s costly errors in the Super Eagles’ shock defeat to Guinea-Bissau in September. Despite his recent performances for Udinese, the former Watford goalkeeper has again missed out, with Nwabali, Arthur Okonkwo and Francis Uzoho making Chelle’s selection for the November internationals.

Elsewhere, Iheanacho’s impressive run in Turkey has done little to earn him a place in Chelle’s latest selection. The 29-year-old has scored 17 goals in 14 league appearances in Turkey’s second-tier division, alongside three assists, making him the division’s leading scorer. He also found the net in Nigeria’s 3-3 international friendly draw against Russia last month.

Despite that run, Chelle has opted for Taiwo Awoniyi, Tolu Arokodare and Akor Adams as his central attacking options, with Lookman, Simon and Moses Usor completing the forward selection.

The squad also features three midfield returns in Alhassan Yusuf, Tochukwu Nnadi and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Mubarak Suleiman earns his first senior invitation. Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia-based wing-back Abdullahi Bewene are also included.

Nigeria will host Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before travelling to Zanzibar for the return fixture at the Amman Stadium on Tuesday, November 17.

The Super Eagles have ground to make up in Group L after their September defeat to Guinea-Bissau left them three points behind the group leaders. 

Tanzania’s status as one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 tournament means they already have an automatic place at the finals. Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar are therefore competing for the remaining qualification spot in the group.

The Super Eagles will be looking to secure maximum points from both encounters to improve their chances of reaching the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Full Super Eagles squad for Tanzania 

Goalkeepers: Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa).

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford, England), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava, Czechia).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA), Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille, France), Samson Tijani (FK Podbrezova, Slovakia), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy), Mubarak Suleiman (Slavia Prague, Czechia).

Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France), Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, England), Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy), Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands), Moses Usor (LASK, Austria).