By Nurudeen Obalola
Victor Osimhen will return to the Super Eagles squad, joining captain William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman and 20 other players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clashes against Rwanda and Benin Republic later this month.
Reigning African Player of the Year Osimhen missed the last round of qualifiers against Libya in October with injury, as the Super Eagles won the first leg 1-0 in Uyo before boycotting the return fixture.
The three points were awarded to Nigeria by the Confederation of African Football following their mistreatment in the North African country.
Head coach Austin Eguavoen has also called up goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, as well as midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.
Home-based defender Victor Collins will join up with the group for the first time, and there is a return for Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar.
Defenders Ola Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are also included in the squad, while France-based defender Gabriel Osho will hope to play his first competitive game for Nigeria, after his inability to honour a first call-up in the summer due to injury.
The Nigeria Football Federation said on Wednesday that the Super Eagles will fly directly to Abidjan on November 11 for the fixture against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny billed for November 14.
They will return to Uyo for the final qualifying game against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on November 18.
The Super Eagles are on top of Group D, and will qualify if they get a point against Benin, which would take then to 11 points, and with only final-day opponents Rwanda capable of catching up with them on points.
However, with a current tally of seven goals for and none against (following the CAF Disciplinary Board’s award of three points and three goals for the botched Matchday 4 encounter against Libya), the Super Eagles are comfortably clear of Rwanda going into the final two matchdays.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD
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)
