Osimhen Out of Super Eagles Squad List for Tanzania AFCON Qualifiers

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled his 24-man squad for Nigeria’s pivotal 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania this month, delivering a major surprise by leaving out several established names.

The biggest talking point is the absence of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who misses out after sustaining a knee injury that required surgery following a Champions League clash.

Also left out are experienced forward Kelechi Iheanacho and midfielder Raphael Onyedika, continuing a pattern of rotation and availability-driven selections under Chelle. In their place, Olympique Marseille midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi earns a notable inclusion after recovering from his own earlier knee issues and impressing in Ligue 1.

Nigeria face the Taifa Stars on November 13 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo before travelling for the return leg on November 17. These Group L fixtures carry high stakes as the Super Eagles look to bounce back from mixed results earlier in the campaign and strengthen their push toward the 2027 AFCON finals.

Chelle’s selection blends familiar core players with fresh options. Captain Wilfred Ndidi leads a midfield that includes Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Samson Tijani, Mubarak Suleiman, and the returning Nnadi. In attack, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon provide creativity and experience alongside Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, and Moses Usor.

The defence features regulars such as Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Benjamin Fredricks, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Chibuike Nwaiwu, and Abdullahi Bewene, while goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, and Arthur Okonkwo complete the group.

Nnadi’s call-up stands out as a positive development for the young midfielder, who has worked his way back to fitness at Marseille and previously featured in Super Eagles setups. His energy, ball-winning ability, and progressive passing offer Chelle another option in a competitive engine room.

Meanwhile, the omission of Osimhen forces greater reliance on the available forwards, testing the squad’s depth ahead of the home-and-away tests against Tanzania.

The full Super Eagles squad for the Tanzania AFCON Qualifiers reflects Chelle’s pragmatic approach: prioritising current form, recovery status, and balance over star power alone.

Fans will watch closely to see how the side adapts without their talismanic No. 9 and whether Nnadi can seize his opportunity on the international stage. With the matches just days away, the Super Eagles camp will focus on cohesion and maximising points from the double-header to keep qualification hopes firmly on track.