SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has handed a first invitation to Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella and kept faith with Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe next week.
Tella, 24, was born in England to Nigerian parents, making him automatically eligible for the Super Eagles, having not featured for his country of birth at youth level.
He started his career at Arsenal Youth and joined Bayer Leverkusen from Southampton in August for €23m. He can play as a wide forward and in attacking midfield.
Tella, who has fellow Nigerian Victor Boniface with him at Leverkusen, has scored one goal in 10 appearances across all competitions for the German Bundesliga leaders this season.
On his part, Okoye has kept his place in the squad after being an emergency replacement for Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke last month for the friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.
The former Super Eagles first choice made his first appearance for Udinese on November 1 and impressed despite their 2-1 defeat to Cagliari after extra-time. He replaced Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye in the Nigeria squad.
Peseiro also included defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi in the squad of 23 players for the qualifiers.
There are also goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielder Raphael Onyedika and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi.
Full-back Jamilu Collins returns after a long lay-off due to injury, with Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar also invited.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze have been ruled out due to injuries.
The Super Eagles begin their qualifying race to the 2026 World Cup against the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo next Thursday, before heading to Rwanda to battle the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Huye Stadium in Butare three days later.
Zimbabwe have adopted Rwanda as home for the qualifiers as no stadium in the southern African nation has been deemed fit to host the FIFA World Cup qualifying games.
SUPER EAGLES SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Defenders:
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales)
Midfielders:
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
PHOTO: Nathan Tella.
