Super Eagles: 13 New Players Get First Call-Ups

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has handed first senior call-ups to 13 new players ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international fixtures.

The new invitees, mainly playing for clubs in Europe and the Middle East, include goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards. Some have been called up for the friendly against Russia, while others are included for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

The new goalkeepers and defenders are Samuel James, a 20-year-old goalkeeper with Finnish club SJK; Chibuzo Nwoko, a 20-year-old central midfielder at Fulham; Isaac James, a 22-year-old versatile defender at Alverca; and 19-year-old Basel centre-back Victory Akpe.

Stephen Michael of Danish club Vendsyssel FF and 21-year-old midfielder Igor Wilfred of Norwegian side Kristiansund also received their first invitations.

The midfield and attacking options include Abdulrasaq Popoola of Al-Wasl, LASK winger Moses Usor, 19-year-old Slavia Prague attacking midfielder Mubarak Suleiman, and 20-year-old Famalicão forward Umar Abubakar.

The remaining new invitees are George Ilenikhena, a forward with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad; 19-year-old Peter Edokpolor of Benfica; and 19-year-old Umar Abdullahi, who plays for Czech club Hradec Králové.

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Chelle’s decision gives the Super Eagles a chance to assess several young and emerging players from different leagues. The new players will now look to make an impression as Nigeria prepares for the Russia friendly and crucial 2027 AFCON qualifying matches.