Super Eagles Manager, Eric Sekou Chelle, has submitted his provisional squad list for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic. An official of the team confirmed yesterday that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to release the names before the end of the week.
Nigeria will play Lesotho in Bloemfontein on October 6 before returning to Uyo to host Benin Republic three days later. The Eagles, currently third in Group C with 11 points, must win both matches to stand any chance of qualification. South Africa lead the group with 17 points, followed by Benin Republic on 14 points.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a team official said: “This is not the time to gamble because our destiny is no longer in our hands. The coach has chosen only those players capable of helping him to win the last two games, which is compulsory if the Eagles must gain anything from Group C.”
He explained that victory in both fixtures would keep Nigeria in contention: “When we win the two games, we will now turn to the calculator to see where we stand. If FIFA takes three points away from South Africa, the Bafana Bafana, Nigeria and Benin Republic could end on 17 points each if Rwanda get any point from their game against the Bafana Bafana. But we must win our games first.”
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Players invited for the Lesotho match will travel directly to South Africa from their respective bases, while the squad will return to Nigeria on a chartered flight after the fixture.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Coach, Hugo Broos, has announced his preliminary squad for their qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Zimbabwe host Bafana Bafana on October 10 in Durban, with Rwanda set to visit Mbombela Stadium four days later. Victories in both ties will guarantee South Africa a place in the World Cup, regardless of FIFA’s ongoing investigation into the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was fielded against Lesotho in March despite suspension.
Broos has recalled Sphephelo Sithole, who last featured at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, and also named Germany-based defender Ime Okon, who missed the last clash due to injury. His final squad will be trimmed to 23 players before the qualifiers kick off.
