Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has dropped Victor Osimhen, Maduka Okoye and Kelechi Iheanacho from his 24-man squad for Nigeria’s two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.
The list was released on Saturday through the Super Eagles’ official X account. Nigeria will host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before the return leg at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.
Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker, misses out because of injury. He was reported earlier to be heading for surgery, which had already left him doubtful for the double-header. No reason was given for the exclusion of Okoye, the Udinese goalkeeper, or Iheanacho, who is the top scorer in the Turkish second division with 17 goals.
Francis Uzoho of Omonia Nicosia returns in goal alongside Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo of Charlton Athletic. Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf and Mubarak Suleiman of Slavia Prague are among the midfielders called up.
Ademola Lookman of Atletico Madrid leads an attack that also includes Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Moses Simon, Tolu Arokodare of Ajax and Moses Usor. The defence features Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Benjamin Fredricks, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Abdullahi Bewene.
Nigeria are second in Group L and will need maximum points from both matches to strengthen their chances of taking the group’s only ticket to the finals, which Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host next summer.
Ajayi’s inclusion comes with an injury concern, as the Hull City defender suffered a knock in his side’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday.
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