Captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa has reacted to the decision of head coach of the Super Eagles Eric Chelle to leave him out of the squad for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will resume their campaign in the world cup qualifiers searching for their first win after four games in the series, with a game against Rwanda away in Kigali on the 21st of March before hosting Zimbabwe four days later at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.

Musa was named in the provisional list of players for both games, but was missing when the number was trimmed from 39 to 23. This came after meeting with the coach in Kano, where he played for Kano Pillars against Enugu Rangers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

In an interview with Modzerosport.com , the forward who is the most capped player in the history of the team with 18 goals and 16 assists gave his backing to the team despite not getting named in the squad for the games.

“The team is one and any player called upon to do battle for the Super Eagles must give his all. I am totally in support of the team and I will be cheering the team to victory in these World Cup qualifier matches”, he was quoted as saying.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nigeria international defender Ola Aina leads the way in the top five leagues in Europe when it comes to winning the ball back in defensive areas according the stat based website WhoScored.

Aina who has surpassed all expectations this season with his performances for high flying Nottingham Forest has won the ball back in defensive areas a full 13 times more than any other player putting him top of the list across the continent.

The former Torino defender is part of the Forest back four that has helped goalkeeper Matz Sels to 12 Premier League clean sheets this season, the most in the division, and the joint-most of the full back’s career to date.

In addition, the 28-year-old had made 30 interceptions in 2024/25, the most in the Forest squad and the joint-26th most across the Premier League.

Aina has put in 58 tackles in all competitions with 53 of those coming in the Premier League putting the defender joint-38th in the division. Indeed, his tackle on Omar Marmoush against Manchester City on Saturday put the ball back in the Reds possession to go and net the winner against the champions.

On Saturday, Aina won four ground duels against Jérémy Doku, who he lined up against from the start at The City Ground, making three clearances, two headed clearances and four ball recoveries against City.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Sekou Chelle made public the list of 23 players who were picked from his preliminary list of 39 players for the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively.

Chelle picked three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and 8 forwards in his final list of players. He was bold enough to make some decisions top of which is the decision not to name the captain of the team Ahmed Musa in his final list after listing the Kano Pillars captain in his preliminary squad.

However a look at the list showed that at least five players shouldn’t have been in the list ahead of some players, who have done enough at club level to be given a chance with the team for both games.

His decision to pick Remo Stars second choice goalkeeper Kayode Bankole ahead of Adebayo Adeleye of Cyprus side Paralimni is a shocker. Bankole is second choice to the third choice goalkeeper of Benin Republic Serge Obasa.

Assuming the decision to leave Udinese shot stopper Maduka Okoye is based on the fact that he only recently returned from a wrist injury. What then can one say is the rationale behind leaving out Adeleye who has been voted the player of the month in Cyprus side more than five man of the match awards.

Another head scratcher is the omission of Frank Onyeka who is on loan to Bundesliga side Augsburg from Brentford. Alhassan Yusuf of MLS side New England Revolution was picked in his place despite the fact that the new MLS season is just three weeks old.

Cyriel Dessers who has 19 goals this season was left out with the duo of Sadiq Umar and Tolu Arokodare preferred ahead of him. One would have expect the coach to pick one of the duo preferably Sadiq alongside Dessers as a reward for his performance this season.

Although it’s hard to argue against the decision to pick Igho Ogbu due to the fact that he has been consistent for the past two years for Czech Republic side Slavia Praha, one can however debate the exclusion of Gabriel Osho of Ligue 1 side in favour of his selection.

Osho played in the last two games of the team in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and hasn’t missed a game in the Ligue 1 aside when he had a knock or suspended.

Papa Daniel of Niger Tornadoes is another controversial inclusion picked ahead of Uche Chrisantus of LaLiga side Getafe. Although it can be said that he was picked as a replacement for the injured Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio.

Papa however hasn’t played a minute of competitive football in five weeks in the Nigeria Premier Football League as he has been away in Europe, where he is searching for a club to join. So on what grounds was he picked?

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team Eric Chelle recently made public his final list of 23 players who will represent the team in the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle who will be in charge of the team for the first time when they play in the qualifiers made some very bold decisions in leaving out some players like captain of the team Ahmed Musa, midfield ace Frank Onyeka, top defender Gabriel Osho and red hot striker Cyriel Dessers.

He however made some controversial decisions in the list with the inclusion of Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel, who hasn’t played a single minute of football in the Nigeria Premier Football League for five weeks.

A member of the CHAN Eagles, Papa has been out of the country for a while in search of a club abroad but to no avail with Czech Republic side Karvina and an unnamed second division side in Turkey. He is reportedly set for another trial with Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.

How he made it to the final list of players for the games is one decision that Chelle will need to explain when he faces the press before the first game against Rwanda, or his first home game at home to Zimbabwe.

It is the same situation for Kayode Bankole who was named among the three goalkeepers, despite playing second fiddle to the third choice goalkeeper of Benin Republic Serge Obasa. Like Papa he is also a member of the CHAN Eagles team but even with the team he is second choice behind Enyimba’s goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena.

Ironically his coach at Remo Stars Daniel Ogunmodede is among the assistants of Chelle and in charge of the CHAN Eagles team, where Bankole is second choice.

Chelle has some questions to answer on their inclusion for two crucial games, which could potentially decides Nigeria’s participation at the 2026 World Cup. One would have thought only the best available players will be picked.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle has named goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Kayode Bankole, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in his final list of 23 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Also in the final list are defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar.

Czech Republic-based defender Igoh Ogbu makes the final cut, alongside home-based midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha, and Belgium-based forward Tolu Arokodare.

Nigeria will confront group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.

LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES FOR RWANDA, ZIMBABWE GAMES

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)

Head coach of Lazio Kosta Runjaić has explained the reason behind his decision to play Maduka Okoye from the start against Lazio following his return from a three months injury layoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Okoye trained for just a week after making full recovery from a wrist injury, and many were shocked to see him start between the sticks for the game that ended in a 1-1 draw against Lazio.

Prior to the game Runjaić was asked about the decision to pick the 25 year old Nigeria international, who also had to battle allegations of his involvement in illegal betting during his time out injured.

“Why Okoye? Because we want to see him back between the posts because he has been training for a few weeks and he is doing well. He is the starting goalkeeper”, he explained.

The decision ended up as a smart one with Okoye making three saves in the game including one very good one in the first half. He spoke of his delight at making his long awaited return in the game that ended with a point for his team.

“I’m really happy today, both for myself and for the team. We’re all delighted and we want to keep going like this. It was difficult for me sitting on the sidelines but I’ve come back into a team that’s improved in recent months. [Daniele] Padelli has helped me lots and so has everyone. I’m very grateful. He’s a great goalkeeper and a great person.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria is currently facing huge pressure from certain quarters in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to prune down the number of invited players for the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively to 25 instead of 23.

In the announcement by the NFF making the list of provisional players public, they said the list of players will be reduced to 23 for both games starting with the away game against Rwanda in Kigali, before the game against Zimbabwe in Uyo.

However sources say the NFF were not entirely satisfied with the 23 names picked by the coach citing an imbalance especially in defence, where only three center backs in William Troost-Ekong, Gabriel Osho and Calvin Bassey were picked in the final list.

The NFF want the coach to increase the number to 25 to accommodate one more centre back with the duo of Jordan Torunarigha and Igho Ogbu favourite to be picked. There is also a chance that Enugu Rangers defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi could be drafted in as well.

Talks are said to have intensified in the last few days with the coach and the NFF hierarchy, and a decision is expected to be made later today before the final list is made public later today.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former Nigeria U23 striker Promise David says the swift approval of his switch of nationality from Nigeria to Canada by FIFA is the biggest thing to have happened to his career, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

23 year old David was a part of the Salisu Yusuf U-23 team of Nigeria that failed to make it to the last Olympic games in Paris. He applied to switch his nationality after he was assured of his future with Canada at senior level.

David was handed a maiden call up to the Canadian team for their Gold Cup game against Mexico, scored a brace for Belgium side Union St. Gilloise in their 3-0 win over Standard Liege taking his tally for the season to 11 with four assists.

” All I can say is thank you to all who made it happen because it is why I am in the Canadian team. It will be a dream come true to finally make my debut. The entire process was swiftly done and it won’t be fair if I don’t say thank you to FIFA”, David said.

On his decision to quit his dream of playing for Nigeria at senior level, he said somethings are destined to happen with his focus now on Canada and making the best of his maiden call up.

” I don’t want to dwell on that much. Somethings are not meant to happen and it’s how life works. My focus now is on cementing my spot with Canada”.

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says the Super Eagles of Nigeria will no doubt be at their best when they take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Group leaders Rwanda will host the Super Eagles on the 21st in Kigali and four days later the Nigerians will host Zimbabwe in Uyo searching for their first win after four rounds of games in the world cup qualifiers.

Rohr whose team Benin Republic are level on points with Rwanda says they are confident going into the games against Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively, hoping that his former team will be fired up for their own games as well.

” Nigeria always play better under pressure. I know because I handled the team for a very long time. I wish them well all the time because I still have a very good relationship with my players in the team, except when they play against me”, he said.

” The aim is to have a very good performance in our games against Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively. You can’t control results elsewhere so we will be more concerned about our games than others”.

Ade Emmanuel