The Super Eagles are going for broke in a final two rounds of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin and so coach Eric Chelle has injected some new energy to his squad.
Sevilla striker Jerome Akor has been handed his first Super Eagles call-up after he has overcome his injury problems in Spain to score his first La Liga goal at Rayo Vallecano.
He is one of several strikers called up as Nigeria need fire power to go past Lesotho and Benin to stand any chance of qualifying for next year’s Mundial.
Other strikers invited are Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi, Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers.
Experienced defender Semi Ajayi and midfielder Alhassan Yusuf have also been recalled for these qualifiers, while Russia-based winger Olakunle Olusegun has been given a second invitation after he made his senior international debut against Russia in June.
However, they will be without Nottingham Forest fullback Ola Aina, who suffered a hamstring injury against South Africa last month.
Nigeria are third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, three points behind front runners Benin and South Africa.
They will hope Benin and South Africa slip in their final matches for the Super Eagles to have any chance of punching their ticket to the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.
They tackle the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October in a Matchday 9 encounter, before flying from South Africa to Uyo to battle leaders Benin Republic in a fiery final Matchday game on Tuesday, 14th October.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD VS LESOTHO AND BENIN REPUBLIC
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers ( Panathinaikos, Greece); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)
