Chelle’s 23-man final list ready this week

‘Super Eagles need total support to qualify for 2026 World Cup’
An official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said that the Super Eagles Manager, Eric Sekou Chelle, will release the final list of players for the forthcoming U.S., Canada, and Mexico 2026 World Cup qualifying games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria will meet Rwanda on March 21 in Kigali and host Zimbabwe on March 25, in Uyo.

According to an official, who pleaded anonymity, the NFF has already sent out letters to the chosen players, just as arrangements have been made for their flights to Kigali.

“The chosen players will fly directly to Kigali from their bases, as they did when we played against Benin Republic in Abidjan.

“The NFF has ensured that nothing would stop anybody picked for the game from getting to Kigali on time because this is a game we must win to remain in contention for the World Cup ticket,” he said.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles Skipper, Ahmed Musa, who currently plays for Kano Pillars in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), has canvassed a holistic approach to the prosecution of the national team’s remaining 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.

Nigeria will travel to Rwanda for its fifth game in the qualifying series on March 21, and return to Uyo to host Zimbabwe on March 25.

Speaking in Ilorin before his team’s NPFL game against Kwara United on Sunday, Musa said that it would amount to a colossal failure for Nigerian football if the nation fails to make it to the 2026 World Cup finals.

He said: “A whole generation of talented players would be lost and it would weaken the confidence of upcoming players for the country.”

Fielding questions from journalists at the Taiwo Awoniyi Sports Media Centre/SWAN Secretariat, Ilorin, Musa also