Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle was all smiles, yesterday, following the arrival of the last set of players for Friday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda.

Nigeria needs to win this game to rekindle hope of returning to the World Cup after missing the last edition in Qatar in 2022. This is Chelle’s first test since he was appointed Super Eagles coach three months ago.

On Monday, the Malian trained with just six players, but yesterday he had the full complement of the players he invited for the game to work with. Simon Moses, Victor Boniface, Raphael Onyedika, Jordan Torunarigha, Stanley Nwabali, Samuel Chukwueze, Bright Osayi and Igoh Ogbu arrived in Kigali on Monday night, while team captain, William Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Joseph Aribo, Igoh Ogbu, and Ola Aina breezed in before midday yesterday.

Valencia forward, Sadiq Umar and Alhassan Yusuf completed the squad before yesterday evening’s training session. Some of the players, who spoke shortly on arrival in Kigali yesterday, expressed their desire to hold their Rwandan counterparts in front of their home fans.

Nigeria is currently fifth in the group with just three points from four matches as against Rwanda, South Africa and Benin Republic’s seven points each.

Looking forward to a successful first game in charge of Nigeria, Chelle said that it would be a disaster for a team as talented as the Super Eagles to fail to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Chelle, who led Mali to the 2023 African Cup of Nations’ quarterfinals in Cote d’Ivoire, said the team would work hard to ensure that it gets the six points in the games against Rwanda on Friday and in Tuesday’s encounter against Zimbabwe, in Uyo.

Meanwhile, Genk striker, Tolu Arokodare, has described the opportunity to play for Nigeria as a dream come true. Arokodare, who has scored 19 goals and six assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, said he was pleasantly surprised to get his first call up by a country that has so many top stars in every position.

Speaking on a video interview posted by Super Eagles Media, the former Amiens star said: “First I was surprised, I felt honoured to be mentioned amongst the 39 players, it was quite surprising.

“I knew it was coming because I’ve been doing pretty well and I was hoping that it would come and it did come. I feel like a winner already that even if I didn’t make the final 23, I have already done something; achieved something. I just feel really blessed and really grateful.”

“It means a lot… it’s one of the best things that can happen to a footballer, getting the opportunity to represent your country to play. As a kid, you always watch the national legends play and you always wanted to play for your national team. So, finally being able to play for my own country means a lot to me.”

Arokodare is expected to play some part in the Eagles two games as his size and movement pattern offers something different from the strikers available for selection.

The team, which had its second training session for Friday’s game last night, will train at the Amahoro Stadium, venue of the World Cup qualifier, tomorrow. Nigeria Premier Football League