Nigeria are preparing for a potentially pivotal month as they attempt to keep alive their hopes of playing at the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles looked to be dead and buried in the CAF qualifying section, but a late turnaround in fortunes, including a remarkable 4-0 win over Benin on the final day of the group phase, saw them snatch a place in the confederation’s playoffs this month.
They will face Gabon in the semifinals, with the winner of that fixture to take on either Cameroon or DR Congo in the final. The victors of this mini-tournament will then enter the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, in which two spots in the World Cup group stage will be up for grabs.
Head coach Eric Chelle named his squad for the CAF playoffs on November 8. There are plenty of familiar faces and experienced heads in the group, along with one or two lesser-known figures hoping to keep that World Cup dream alive.
MORE: Why Eric Chelle was a controversial choice as Nigeria head coach
Nigeria squad for March 2025: Super Eagles list in full
Chelle named 24 players in his squad for November.
International caps current as of Saturday, November 8, 2025.
| Pos | Name | Club | Caps |
| GK | Stanley Nwabali | Chippa United (RSA) | 25 |
| GK | Amas Obasogie | Singida Blackstars (TAN) | 0 |
| GK | Maduka Okoye | Udinese (ITA) | 16 |
| DEF | William Troost-Ekong | Al Kholood (KSA) | 82 |
| DEF | Bright Osayi-Samuel | Birmingham City (ENG) | 25 |
| DEF | Semi Ajayi | Hull City (ENG) | 45 |
| DEF | Bruno Onyemaechi | Olympiacos (GRE) | 19 |
| DEF | Calvin Bassey | Fulham (ENG) | 35 |
| DEF | Chidozie Awaziem | Nantes (FRA) | 33 |
| DEF | Zaidu Sanusi | Porto (POR) | 24 |
| DEF | Benjamin Fredericks | Dender (BEL) | 3 |
| MID | Wilfred Ndidi | Besiktas (TUR) | 69 |
| MID | Raphael Onyedika | Club Brugge (BEL) | 16 |
| MID | Alex Iwobi | Fulham (ENG) | 89 |
| MID | Frank Onyeka | Brentford (ENG) | 34 |
| MID | Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi | New England Revolution (USA) | 6 |
| FWD | Samuel Chukwueze | Fulham (ENG) | 49 |
| FWD | Victor Osimhen | Galatasaray (TUR) | 43 |
| FWD | Ademola Lookman | Atalanta (ITA) | 32 |
| FWD | Akor Adams | Sevilla (SPA) | 2 |
| FWD | Moses Simon | Paris FC (FRA) | 86 |
| FWD | Tolu Arokodare | Wolves (ENG) | 8 |
| FWD | Olakunle Olusegun | Nizhny Novgorod (RUS) | 1 |
MORE: How Nigeria can still qualify for the 2026 World Cup
When is Nigeria vs. Gabon?
Nigeria face Gabon in the CAF playoff semifinal on Thursday, November 13.
The game kicks off in at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco at 5 p.m. local time.
The final is three days later on Sunday, November 16 at the same venue. The kickoff for that game is 8 p.m. local time.
MORE: All the teams to have qualified so far for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
