Chelle Leaves Okoye and In-Form Iheanacho Out of Super Eagles Squad for Tanzania Ties

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has made some notable selection decisions ahead of the Super Eagles’ upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania, leaving goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and striker Kelechi Iheanacho out of his 24-man squad.

The announcement, made by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday, November 7, has attracted attention, particularly because of Iheanacho’s impressive performances at club level. The former Leicester City forward has been enjoying a productive spell with Turkish side Bursaspor, making his omission one of the biggest talking points surrounding Chelle’s latest selection.

Okoye’s absence is another significant development, with the Udinese goalkeeper missing out despite being part of Nigeria’s previous squad for the September qualifying matches.

Chelle’s decisions come at an important stage of Nigeria’s qualification campaign, with the Super Eagles needing positive results against Tanzania to strengthen their chances of reaching the 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The two encounters present an opportunity for Nigeria to improve their position in Group L and put pressure on their rivals as the qualification competition progresses.

Iheanacho’s Impressive Form Fails to Earn Him a Place

Perhaps the most surprising omission from Chelle’s squad is Kelechi Iheanacho, whose recent performances have given Nigerian supporters reasons to believe he could be an important attacking option for the national team.

The 29-year-old has rediscovered his goalscoring confidence at Bursaspor, recording 17 league goals for the Turkish club. His performances have demonstrated his ability to remain influential in the final third, while his experience at the highest levels of European football makes him a valuable option for any team looking for attacking quality.

Iheanacho also reminded supporters of what he could offer Nigeria during the international friendly against Russia in October, when he found the back of the net in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

His contribution in that encounter appeared to strengthen his chances of remaining involved in the national team setup, especially with Victor Osimhen unavailable for the November fixtures.

However, Chelle has decided against including the Bursaspor forward in his latest selection. The decision means Nigeria will head into the Tanzania matches without one of their most productive Nigerian strikers in recent club football.

Although the coach has not publicly provided a specific explanation for Iheanacho’s omission, the decision will inevitably generate debate among supporters who believe his current form deserves recognition.

With Osimhen also unavailable, some fans may question why a striker who has been scoring regularly for his club has not been included in the squad.

Nevertheless, Chelle has opted to retain other attacking options, including Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Usor.

Iheanacho will now have to continue delivering strong performances at club level while waiting for another opportunity to represent his country.

Maduka Okoye Also Misses Out

Iheanacho is not the only established Super Eagles player who will miss the upcoming fixtures, as Maduka Okoye has also been left out of the 24-man selection.

The Udinese goalkeeper was part of the squad during the previous international window but has failed to retain his position for the November double-header.

Okoye’s omission comes during a difficult period for his Italian club, which has struggled to produce consistent results in Serie A.

Udinese recently suffered a 2-1 defeat against Venezia, a result that further complicated their league campaign. The club had also endured a heavy 5-2 loss against Roma on October 31, with Okoye conceding five goals in that encounter.

The goalkeeper’s recent club performances have therefore attracted attention, although it would be unfair to place the responsibility for the team’s disappointing results entirely on him.

Another incident that previously generated discussion involved his late arrival at the Super Eagles camp during the September international window. Okoye arrived after the camp had opened following his involvement in Udinese’s third-kit presentation in Milan during Fashion Week.

Chelle subsequently explained that he had granted the goalkeeper permission to attend the club activity.

Despite being available for selection, Okoye has not been included in the latest squad, with the coach choosing three different goalkeepers for the Tanzania encounters.

Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo have received invitations, with Uzoho returning to the national team setup.

The selection gives all three goalkeepers an opportunity to compete for the starting position as Nigeria prepares for two important matches.

Chelle Names His Goalkeeping Options

With Okoye missing, Chelle has placed his confidence in three goalkeepers who will be expected to provide security between the posts.

Stanley Nwabali remains part of the squad and will be hoping to maintain his position as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper. The Chippa United shot-stopper has established himself as an important figure in the national team and will be keen to deliver reliable performances when called upon.

Francis Uzoho’s return is another interesting development. The Omonia goalkeeper has previously enjoyed an important role with the Super Eagles, although competition for the position has increased considerably in recent years.

Arthur Okonkwo completes the goalkeeping selection. The Charlton Athletic goalkeeper continues to attract attention as he develops his international career, and his inclusion gives Chelle another option to consider.

The decision to select these three players suggests that the coach is comfortable exploring his available options rather than relying on Okoye for the upcoming assignments.

However, the final decision on who starts against Tanzania will depend on the coach’s assessment during preparations and the players’ performances in training.

Ndidi, Iwobi and Lookman Headline the Squad

While several familiar names have been excluded, Chelle has retained a strong group of experienced players for the November international window.

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi is included alongside Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Calvin Bassey.

Ndidi’s presence will be particularly important as Nigeria prepares for two demanding encounters. His experience, defensive awareness and ability to protect the midfield could prove valuable in matches where the Super Eagles are expected to take control of proceedings.

Iwobi also remains an important figure in Chelle’s plans. The Fulham midfielder offers creativity, movement and the ability to connect the defensive and attacking departments.

Lookman will be another player expected to contribute significantly in the final third. The Atletico Madrid forward has become one of Nigeria’s most influential attacking players, and his ability to create opportunities and produce decisive moments could be important against Tanzania.

Moses Simon provides additional experience and attacking options from wide areas, while Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare offer different qualities in the centre-forward position.

Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Usor have also been selected, giving Chelle several alternatives as he considers how best to approach the two matches.

The squad also features defensive options such as Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Benjamin Fredrick and Chibuike Nwaiwu.

Their inclusion provides competition across the defensive positions, with Calvin Bassey expected to remain an important part of the team’s defensive structure.

New Faces and Midfield Changes

Chelle has also used the latest squad announcement to introduce fresh options into the national team setup.

Tochukwu Nnadi receives an invitation following his performances at club level, while Samson Tijani and Suleiman Mubarak are also included.

The selections indicate that Chelle is interested in expanding his midfield options as Nigeria continues its qualification campaign.

Yusuf Alhassan and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru also return to the squad, offering additional choices in the middle of the pitch.

However, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika are among the notable midfielders who have not made the final selection.

Onyeka has previously been a regular presence in the Super Eagles midfield, while Onyedika has also featured prominently in the national team setup. Their absence means other players will have an opportunity to establish themselves during the upcoming international window.

The competition for places could be beneficial for Nigeria, particularly as Chelle attempts to build a squad capable of delivering consistent performances throughout the qualification process.

The coach will nevertheless need to ensure that the new selections settle quickly and understand their responsibilities before the competitive fixtures begin. TheCable +2

Nigeria Face Important Tests Against Tanzania

The Super Eagles will host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before travelling for the return fixture on Tuesday, November 17, at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

The two matches carry considerable importance for Nigeria, who cannot afford to drop unnecessary points if they want to strengthen their position in Group L.

The Super Eagles began their qualification campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar but subsequently suffered a disappointing defeat against Guinea-Bissau.

That result has increased the pressure on Chelle and his players, making the Tanzania double-header an important opportunity to respond.

Nigeria are currently second in the group, three points behind Guinea-Bissau, according to reports ahead of the latest fixtures. With the group winner securing qualification for the tournament, every point could have a major influence on the final standings.

Playing the first encounter in Uyo gives Nigeria an opportunity to make a strong start in front of their home supporters. The team will be expected to approach the contest with attacking intent while maintaining the defensive discipline required to prevent Tanzania from taking advantage of mistakes.

The return fixture in Zanzibar could present a different challenge. Travelling away from home against a team determined to collect points will require concentration, organisation and effective game management.

Tanzania will also be motivated to perform well, particularly with the country set to co-host the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Uganda.

For Nigeria, securing maximum points from both encounters would provide a significant boost to their qualification ambitions.

Full 24-Man Super Eagles Squad

Chelle’s selection combines established international players with younger talents who will be looking to make their mark during the November fixtures.

The complete list is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC), Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic).

Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Yusuf Alhassan (New England Revolution), Tochukwu Nnadi (Marseille), Samson Tijani (FK Podbrezova), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Suleiman Mubarak (Slavia Prague).

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid), Moses Simon (Paris FC), Akor Adams (Venezia), Tolu Arokodare (Ajax), Moses Usor (LASK), Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City).

Chelle Faces Pressure to Deliver Results

The latest squad announcement has placed several of Chelle’s selection decisions under the spotlight, especially the decision to overlook Iheanacho despite his impressive goalscoring record.

Okoye’s absence will also attract attention, although the coach has the opportunity to assess other goalkeeping options during the international window.

Ultimately, the most important consideration will be what Nigeria achieves on the pitch. The Super Eagles have enough experienced players and attacking quality to compete against Tanzania, but they must demonstrate the consistency and determination required to secure positive results.

Chelle will also be aware that supporters expect an improved performance following the disappointing result against Guinea-Bissau.

The absence of Osimhen, combined with Iheanacho’s omission, places additional responsibility on the other attacking players to deliver. Lookman, Simon, Adams, Arokodare and Awoniyi will all have opportunities to contribute to Nigeria’s goalscoring efforts.

For the players who have been overlooked, the international break provides another opportunity to work towards earning future invitations through their performances at club level.

Nigeria’s immediate attention, however, remains on Tanzania. Two victories would put the Super Eagles in a stronger position and give their qualification campaign renewed momentum.

Chelle has made his selections, and the responsibility now rests with the players to justify the coach’s decisions when the two teams meet in November.