Nigeria’s Super Eagles are stepping up their game in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the team’s camp has now reached 13 players ahead of key 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa. The camp opened on Monday with four early arrivals, and nine more joined on Tuesday, building momentum for the double-header fixtures that could reshape Nigeria’s position in Group C of the African qualifiers.
The initial group included captain William Troost-Ekong from Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia, Amas Obasogie of Singida Black Stars in Tanzania, Felix Agu from Werder Bremen in Germany, and Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge in Belgium. These players checked into the team’s base at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on Monday, marking the start of focused preparations under head coach Eric Chelle.
On Tuesday, the squad grew with the arrival of Alex Iwobi from Fulham in England, Calvin Bassey also from Fulham, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio in Italy, Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest in England, Bright Osayi-Samuel of Birmingham City in England, Moses Simon from Paris FC in France, Chidozie Awaziem of Nantes in France, Adebayo Adeleye from Volos FC in Greece, and Benjamin Fredericks from Dender FC in Belgium. Promise Efoghe, the team’s media officer, confirmed the developments to the News Agency of Nigeria, noting that out of the 23 invited players, 10 more are expected later on Tuesday and early Wednesday.
“A total of 13 players are currently in camp, and we are expecting the rest of the squad to arrive later today and early tomorrow,” Efoghe said.
The full 23-man squad, announced earlier, features a mix of experienced stars and emerging talents across positions. Goalkeepers include Stanley Nwabali from Chippa United in South Africa, Amas Obasogie from Singida Black Stars in Tanzania, and Adebayo Adeleye from Volos FC in Greece. Defenders are William Troost-Ekong from Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia, Calvin Bassey from Fulham in England, Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest in England, Bright Osayi-Samuel from Birmingham City in England, Bruno Onyemaechi from Olympiakos in Greece, Chidozie Awaziem from Nantes in France, Felix Agu from Werder Bremen in Germany, and Benjamin Fredericks from Dender FC in Belgium. Midfielders comprise Alex Iwobi from Fulham in England, Frank Onyeka from Brentford in England, Wilfred Ndidi from Besiktas in Turkey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru from Lazio in Italy, Raphael Onyedika from Club Brugge in Belgium, and Christantus Uche from Getafe in Spain. Forwards are Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in Italy, Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan in Italy, Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray in Turkey, Moses Simon from Paris FC in France, Cyriel Dessers from Rangers in Scotland, and Tolu Arokodare from KRC Genk in Belgium.
The players still expected include goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali; defender Bruno Onyemaechi; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka; and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Christantus Uche, and Tolu Arokodare.
Nigeria will host Rwanda on Friday, September 5, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo for the Matchday 7 fixture. They will then travel to Bloemfontein to face South Africa on Monday, September 8, in the Matchday 8 encounter. These games are part of the ongoing African qualifiers, where the Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with two points from two matches. They trail leaders South Africa, who have four points, and Rwanda, who also have four points but sit ahead on goal difference. The group includes Benin, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, with matches played in a home-and-away format across 10 matchdays from November 2023 to October 2025.
In the broader context of CAF’s qualification process, 54 teams started in nine groups of six, but Eritrea withdrew before any games, leaving Group E with five teams. Congo was suspended in February 2025 for government interference but had their ban lifted in May, allowing them to play remaining fixtures.
As of now, no African teams have qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature nine automatic spots for CAF plus one potential via inter-confederation playoffs.
The four best runners-up from the groups will enter CAF playoffs in November 2025 to decide the inter-confederation representative. Nigeria’s Group C remains competitive, with South Africa leading on 13 points after six matches, followed by Rwanda and Benin on eight each, Nigeria on seven, Lesotho on six, and Zimbabwe on four.
A win over Rwanda could cut the gap, especially if FIFA deducts points from South Africa for fielding ineligible player Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in March.
The Super Eagles’ historical record in World Cup qualifiers underscores the stakes. Nigeria has qualified for six FIFA World Cups overall 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018 reaching the round of 16 three times (1994, 1998, 2014) but missing 2006 and 2022. They hold a strong head-to-head against Rwanda, unbeaten in three meetings with one win and two draws, including a 2-0 victory in Kigali in March 2025 where Victor Osimhen scored both goals. Against South Africa, Nigeria has 10 wins in 23 encounters, though recent qualifiers have been tight, with a 1-1 draw in June 2024.
Efoghe also outlined the media schedule to keep fans engaged. “There will be a press conference with the coaching staff and selected players on Wednesday at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium,” he stated. “For Friday, the pre-match press conference will be held at the same venue, and the first 15 minutes of the team’s training session will be open to media coverage.”
The first official training session is set for Tuesday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium’s practice pitch, where Chelle will begin integrating the squad. With only four matches left after September away to Lesotho and home against Benin in October Nigeria needs maximum points to challenge for the top spot.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, expands to 48 teams, offering CAF nine direct slots and a playoff chance for a 10th. Nigeria’s squad boasts Premier League experience, with players like Iwobi (80 caps, 10 goals), Ndidi (52 caps), and Osimhen (39 caps, 25 goals, joint second all-time scorer behind Rashidi Yekini’s 37). Ahmed Musa holds the caps record at 109 with 16 goals.
