Ekong, 22 others to battle Benin Republic, Rwanda in 2025 AFCON qualifiers

A few hours after naming Germany’s Bruno Labbadia as Super Eagles’ new coach, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), yesterday, released a list of 23 players for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

In the players’ list is Captain William Ekong, who is returning to the team for the first time since his man-of-the-tournament performance at the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Others in the squad are wing-back Olaoluwa Aina and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Ekong was discountenanced for the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race in June as he was recovering from injury, while Aina, Awoniyi and reigning Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, were out injured altogether.

There are three goalkeepers, including AFCON 2023 star, Stanley Nwabali, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards.

Bendel Insurance safe hands Amas Obasogie also returns, just as South Africa-based defender Olisa Ndah, and Taiwo Awoniyi, who has not been called since the 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on Matchday 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November last year.

The Super Eagles go up against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 7, before flying to Kigali to take on the Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium on September 10.

All the players are expected to report in Uyo on September2 .

The three goalkeepers in the squad are Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy) and Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance FC).

Among the defenders are Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England) and Aina (Nottingham Forest, England).

To vie for starting positions in the midfield are Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England) and Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England).

The forwards in the squad are Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy) and Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England).