Eric Sekou Chelle, the head coach of the Super Eagles, is gearing up for the team’s second practice session on Wednesday in Polokwane. A roster of eagles-chile-camp/” title=”U20 World Cup: Flying … Gear Up for Intense 12-Day Training Camp in Chile!”>20 players is set to prepare for the pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho’s Crocodiles, scheduled for this Friday.
By Tuesday evening, 18 squad members had already checked into The Ranch Hotel. Defender Zaidu Sanusi, who plays in Portugal, and forward Jerome Akor Adams from Spain are expected to join the group on Wednesday. Meanwhile, midfielder Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, currently based in the United States, is slated to arrive in South Africa by Thursday.
Following injuries to defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and striker Cyriel Dessers, Chelle has revised the lineup, calling up Sanusi and Crystal Palace’s Christantus Uche as replacements. The squad was initially 23 players strong, but an injury to wing-back Felix Agu has reduced it to 22.
It’s important to note that former youth international Olakunle Olusegun, who plays in Russia, is still waiting for his South African visa approval. This delay could force the Eagles to compete with just 21 players against Lesotho.
The much-anticipated Matchday 9 fixture will take place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday, October 10, 2025, kicking off at 6:00 PM local time (5:00 PM Nigerian time).
Here is the squad selected for the upcoming clash with Lesotho:
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)
– Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
– Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece)
– 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)
– Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England)
Forwards:
– Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy)
– Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England)
– Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
– Simon Moses (Paris FC, France)
– Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)
– Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)
– Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)
