Ekong, Lookman, Osimhen, 20 others for Benin, Rwanda clashes
Captain William Ekong, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, and 20 others are gearing up to secure six points against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the final rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month. Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called on goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, defenders […]
Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong reacts during a match at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil
Captain William Ekong, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, and 20 others are gearing up to secure six points against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the final rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.
Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called on goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, and midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi.
Forward options include Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze. New to the squad is home-based defender Victor Collins, while towering forward Sadiq Umar returns, joining from Real Sociedad. Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are also selected, while Gabriel Osho, based in France, hopes to debut after missing his initial call-up in the summer due to injury.
The Super Eagles will depart for Abidjan on November 11 to face Benin Republic’s Cheetahs at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny on November 14, before returning to Uyo for their final qualifier against Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on November 18.
- $200m invested in CNG infrastructure, 100,000 vehicles converted – PCNGi
- Obaseki converting political appointees to full-time civil servants –APC
Leading Group D, the Super Eagles need just a point against Benin to secure qualification. Their current tally includes seven goals with none conceded, aided by a CAF Disciplinary Board ruling granting them three points from a disrupted match against Libya.
Rwanda trails with a one-goal deficit and five points. Confident in their solid form, the Super Eagles aim to finish the qualifiers unbeaten and head into the tournament with momentum.
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)
Midfielders: 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 (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England).
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).