Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has handed first senior invitations to 13 players as he continues to widen his options ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international fixtures
The new invitees, largely drawn from clubs in Europe and the Middle East, cover every area of the pitch and include players selected for the international friendly against Russia as well as the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Chelle is working with separate squads for Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau and the subsequent friendly against Russia
While established players have been retained for the competitive fixtures, the Russia match gives Chelle an opportunity to assess younger talents who could become part of the Super Eagles’ senior setup
The 13 players receiving their first senior invitations are:
The 22-year-old Alverca defender is capable of playing at left-back, wing-back or left centre-back
James started his career with Garden City Panthers before moving to France and later Portugal, where he has become a regular starter for Alverca He is included in both Chelle’s wider selection and the AFCON squad.
Akpe, 19, is a centre-back who has made rapid progress in European football
The approximately 195m defender moved from Lithuania to Hungary before joining Swiss club Basel in 2026. His physical presence and ability to build play from defence have earned him his first senior invitation.
SJK goalkeeper Samuel James is another youngster receiving his first call-up
The approximately 20-year-old goalkeeper came through Mavlon FC and previously represented Nigeria at youth level with the Flying Eagles
He has established himself in Finland and now forms part of Chelle’s goalkeeping options
The 20-year-old midfielder is a left-footed central midfielder who came through Fulham’s academy after spending time in Chelsea’s youth setup
Nwoko represented England at Under-18 level before switching his international allegiance to Nigeria He recently made his senior club debut and is now in line for his first Super Eagles appearance.
Fumelu, 19, also known as Stephen Michael, plays for Danish side Vendsyssel FF
The central midfielder joined the club in 2025 and is regarded as an energetic box-to-box player His invitation gives Chelle another opportunity to assess Nigeria’s emerging midfield options.
Wilfred, 21, operates as a central or defensive midfielder for Norwegian club Kristiansund
The midfielder has established himself as a regular starter in the Norwegian Eliteserien and has now earned his first Super Eagles invitation
The 19-year-old Al-Wasl midfielder, also known as Ridwan Popoola, is a defensive midfielder standing at about 191m.
Popoola began his career in Nigerian grassroots football before moving to Hungary, where he played for Kisvárda, and subsequently joining Al-Wasl in 2026
He has since become a regular starter for the UAE club
Suleiman, 19, plays for Czech giants Slavia Prague
The attacking midfielder emerged from the Right2Win Academy in Abuja and gained attention through his performances in the UEFA Youth League
He also scored after making his senior debut for Slavia and recently extended his contract with the club until 2031
Suleiman is now in line for his first senior appearance for Nigeria
The 24-year-old LASK winger is among the more experienced players on Chelle’s list of new invitees
The left-footed forward primarily operates on the right wing and played an important role in LASK’s recent league-and-cup double
Usor has also been included in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON qualifiers
Lagos-born striker George Ilenikhena, 20, developed in France with Amiens before moving to Royal Antwerp and Monaco
He scored in the Champions League during his time in Europe before joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in 2026
Eligible to represent both Nigeria and France, Ilenikhena has committed his international future to the Super Eagles and is also part of the AFCON squad
The 19-year-old Benfica forward is a tall centre-forward who can also operate from the wing
Edokpolor joined the Portuguese giants from Galadima FC and has progressed through Benfica’s Under-23 and B teams, while also gaining exposure to the first-team setup
He has now received his first senior invitation from Nigeria
Abubakar, 20, is a 190m striker who plays for Portuguese club Famalicão.
The former Nigeria Under-17 international scored 21 goals during a loan spell at Jong Gent before securing a permanent move to Famalicão
His performances have now earned him his first Super Eagles call-up
Hradec Králové striker Umar Abdullahi, 19, completes the list of new invitees
The forward, also known as Abdullahi Umar, made a strong impression at Under-19 level after scoring 25 goals in one season
He has since progressed to senior football in the Czech Republic, featuring in domestic league matches and European qualifiers
The invitation represents his first at senior international level
Chelle’s latest selections underline his efforts to broaden the pool of players available to the Super Eagles
The coach had earlier indicated that he would use separate squads for the AFCON qualifiers and the Russia friendly, enabling him to retain established internationals for the competitive matches while assessing emerging talents
The established names in the AFCON squad include Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon and Ola Aina
The Russia squad, meanwhile, features a larger contingent of emerging players alongside some established Super Eagles internationals