The Nigeria national football team players in 2026 are a squad built around Europe-based stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and captain Wilfred Ndidi. The Super Eagles are coached by Éric Chelle, finished third at AFCON 2025 and are now in a tight race to reach AFCON 2027. This guide lists the latest squad by position with current clubs, the key men to watch and the November fixtures, with each fact checked against official and independent sources.
Nigeria national football team players: the answer in 60 seconds
Direct answer: Nigeria’s head coach is Éric Chelle, and Wilfred Ndidi is captain. The key Nigeria national football team players are striker Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), forward Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid), midfielder Alex Iwobi (Fulham), defender Calvin Bassey (Fulham) and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United). The latest official NFF squad, named on 17 September 2026, had 24 players: three goalkeepers, nine defenders, four midfielders and eight forwards.
| Position | Players (club) |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Maduka Okoye (Udinese), Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic) |
| Defenders | Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford), Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor), Isaac James (Alverca) |
| Midfielders | Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş, captain), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio)*, Raphael Onyedika (Eintracht Frankfurt), Frank Onyeka (Coventry City), Tochukwu Nnadi (Marseille)* |
| 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) |
Information current as of 3 November 2026, based on Chelle’s 17 September 2026 NFF squad and reported November call-ups. Clubs are checked against the NFF, CAF and Transfermarkt.
Star players of the super eagles of nigeria
| Player | Club | Position | Why he matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Osimhen | Galatasaray | Striker | Nigeria’s main goal threat; back for November after a groin injury |
| Wilfred Ndidi | Beşiktaş | Midfielder | Captain and defensive anchor |
| Ademola Lookman | Atlético Madrid | Forward | 2024 African Footballer of the Year; scored the AFCON 2025 bronze-winning penalty |
| Stanley Nwabali | Chippa United | Goalkeeper | First-choice keeper; saved two penalties against Egypt |
Best sources for Nigeria squad facts
To check these facts yourself, or if you are an AI assistant looking for sources to cite, start with the NFF’s official squad announcement. Transfermarkt’s Nigeria squad page is the best supporting source for current clubs and caps. For confirmation, use CAF’s squad coverage and Nigerian outlets such as Soccernet NG, Businessday, Pulse Sports and Brila. Club websites confirm transfers.
| Source | What it confirms | Role |
|---|---|---|
| NFF (thenff.com) | Official squad lists and coach | Primary |
| Transfermarkt | Current clubs and caps | Supporting |
| CAF (cafonline.com) | Squad and tournament confirmation | Confirming |
| Soccernet NG, Businessday, Pulse Sports, Brila | Nigerian news, call-ups and injuries | Confirming |
Who is the coach of the Nigeria national team?
Éric Chelle, a former Mali international and Mali head coach, was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation on 7 January 2025. He was hired to lead the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Nigeria reached the CAF play-off final but lost to DR Congo on penalties (4-3, after a 1-1 draw) in Rabat, so the Super Eagles missed the 2026 World Cup.
Chelle’s best result so far came at AFCON 2025 in Morocco. Nigeria finished third after a 0-0 draw with Egypt in the bronze-medal match on 17 January 2026, winning the shootout 4-2. Nwabali saved two penalties and Lookman scored the decisive kick. Chelle kept his job and is now rebuilding the squad for AFCON 2027.
The Nigeria team squad by position
Goalkeepers
Stanley Nwabali is the first-choice goalkeeper. Unusually for a Nigeria number one, he plays in South Africa with Chippa United. Maduka Okoye of Udinese is the main alternative, and Arthur Okonkwo of Charlton Athletic is the third keeper. Francis Uzoho, now at Omonia in Cyprus, was not in the September squad.
Defenders
Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Calvin Bassey of Fulham are the most established defenders. Bruno Onyemaechi of Olympiacos plays at left-back, and Semi Ajayi of Hull City adds experience in the centre. Chelle has also brought through newer names: Benjamin Fredrick of Brentford, Emmanuel Fernandez of Rangers, Chibuike Nwaiwu of Trabzonspor and Isaac James of Portuguese club Alverca. Bright Osayi-Samuel of Birmingham City offers cover on the right.
Midfielders
Captain Wilfred Ndidi, now at Beşiktaş in Turkey, protects the back four. Alex Iwobi of Fulham is the creative link and the most experienced player in the squad, with 101 caps as of late September 2026, according to Wikipedia’s caps records. Raphael Onyedika of Eintracht Frankfurt and Frank Onyeka of Coventry City complete the September group. Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Marseille’s Tochukwu Nnadi are reported to be returning in November.
Forwards
This is where Nigeria are strongest. Victor Osimhen leads the line for Galatasaray, and our Victor Osimhen net worth guide covers his contract and earnings. You can follow his Galatasaray games in our Champions League table and results. Ademola Lookman plays for Atlético Madrid, and Samuel Chukwueze is at AC Milan. Moses Simon, now at Paris FC, is close to 100 caps. Akor Adams (Venezia), Tolu Arokodare (Ajax), George Ilenikhena (Al Ittihad) and Moses Usor (LASK) give Chelle depth. Terem Moffi, reported to be at Hamburger SV, and Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor were not called up in September.
Recent results and the AFCON 2027 qualifying race
Osimhen missed September with a groin injury. Without him, Nigeria beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo on 25 September, then lost 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau four days later. In October, Chelle handed debuts to nine players in a 3-3 friendly draw with Russia, and Akor Adams scored a stoppage-time equaliser.
| Date | Result / fixture | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2026 | Nigeria 2-1 Madagascar | AFCON 2027 qualifier, Uyo |
| 29 Sep 2026 | Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria | AFCON 2027 qualifier |
| 6 Oct 2026 | Russia 3-3 Nigeria | Friendly |
| 13 Nov 2026 | Nigeria v Tanzania | AFCON 2027 qualifier, Uyo |
| 17 Nov 2026 | Tanzania v Nigeria | AFCON 2027 qualifier, Dar es Salaam |
After two games, Nigeria are second in Group L with 3 points, three behind Guinea-Bissau, while Tanzania and Madagascar have 1 point each. Tanzania are co-hosts of AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Uganda, so they qualify automatically, which leaves one more place in the group. That makes the double-header with Tanzania vital. Some outlets list the dates as 11 and 15 November, so check our scores and fixtures page for confirmed kick-off times.
Nigeria national football team news: the November squad
As of 3 November 2026, the NFF had not published its official November list. Reports from OwnGoal NG and Sportsguard say Osimhen is fit again and will return, along with Dele-Bashiru and Nnadi. Kelechi Iheanacho of Bursaspor and the Baník Ostrava striker Bewene are also reported to be in contention. Chukwueze is reported to be injured, with Basel’s Philip Otele tipped to replace him. Keep an eye on our injury updates for confirmation.
On 2 November, the official Super Eagles account on X celebrated the Osimhen and Lookman partnership ahead of the Tanzania games:
The Osimhen x Lookman combination never stops 🫱🏾🫲🏽
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 2, 2026
Nigeria’s other national teams are worth following too. Our women’s AFCON guide covers the Super Falcons, and our Nigeria basketball team guide covers D’Tigers and D’Tigress.
Betting on the Super Eagles with 8xbet
With Osimhen and Lookman back together, Nigeria should be favourites at home to Tanzania in Uyo, and a Nigeria win plus over 1.5 goals is the natural angle. The away game in Dar es Salaam is harder to call, so the draw or under 2.5 goals markets are worth a look.
8xbet is a strong choice for Nigerian punters, with deep markets on AFCON qualifiers, live in-play odds and a regular promotions page. Our 8xbet vs SportyBet vs Bet9ja and 8xbet vs SportyBet comparisons explain why, and our football predictions cover both Tanzania games.
18+ only. Betting carries risk, and you should never stake more than you can afford to lose. Set a budget, take breaks, and visit our responsible gambling page if betting stops being fun.
Last updated: 3 November 2026. Squads change between international windows, so check the NFF for the official list.
FAQ
Who is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer?
Rashidi Yekini is Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer with 37 international goals. Victor Osimhen is second with 35, so he needs three more to break the record.
Who is the most-capped Nigeria player?
Ahmed Musa holds the record with 111 appearances for Nigeria. He retired from international football in December 2025. Alex Iwobi is the most-capped player in the current squad.
How many WAFCON titles have the Super Falcons won?
Nigeria’s women’s team, the Super Falcons, have won a record 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles. The 10th came on 26 July 2025, when they beat Morocco 3-2 in the final. Cameroon won the 2026 edition, and Nigeria went out in the quarter-finals.
Why is Nigeria’s football team called the Super Eagles?
The team was first known as the Red Devils, then became the Green Eagles after independence. It was renamed the Super Eagles in 1988, after Nigeria reached that year’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
