AS Nigerians anticipate the Super Eagles list for the next 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March, we took a look at possible invitees who could be good additions to the men’s senior national team
Chrisantus Uche
Unarguably one of the breakout stars of the 2024/25 season in Europe, Uche, has been making a case for a Super Eagles call-up with his consistent performance for Getafe in the La Liga. The midfielder scored his third goal of the season in the Spanish topflight on Friday, netting the opener in Getafe’s 2-1 win over Girona.
He has been one of the most consistent players for Getafe this season, featuring in all their 24 matches so far this season and such character, coupled with his ball-carrying abilities from box-to-box will make him a good fit for the Super Eagles.
As a marker to his performance this season, Uche has been linked with top clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and other Premier League sides and Getafe have already slammed a €25m price tag on the Nigerian. It won’t be a surprise if they cash in on the midfielder just one season after signing him. The 21-year-old midfielder joined Getafe from lower league club Ceuta last summer and has made a significant impact at the club.
Tolu Arokodare
With 15 goals and five assists in the current campaign, Genk striker, Arokodare, is finally proving that his invitation into the Super Eagles is long overdue – as this happens to be his best-ever season in Europe.
The lanky striker has been on the horizon since joining Genk in January 2023 and his profile has been rising.
Aside from Victor Osimhen who has 17 goals for Galatasaray this season, no Nigerian striker has more goals than the 24-year-old Arokodare. The striker also has 17 goals in all competitions this season.
Usually, strikers like Sadiq Umar and Taiwo Awoniyi have been invited into the team to provide competition for Osimhen, but the thought of Arokodare should quell those options as the Belgium-based striker has the potential to offer something better for the national team at the moment, based on current form.
Ejuke, Tella
Over the years, the Super Eagles have never lacked good wingers. The only problem sometimes is how they are deployed. If Ademola Lookman will be fit enough for the next assignment and Moses Simon is in his devastating form, another winger that can add depth to the team is Chidera Ejuke, who recently returned from injury with Sevilla.
He has played in five games since recovering and marked his appearance on Sunday with an assist in their 4-0 win at Real Valladolid.
While Nathan Tella hasn’t been much of a starter at Bayer Leverkusen, he has proven to be a good team player as he has turned up with goals and assists in the absence of their regulars.
Orban, Onuachu, Dessers
If a third striker would be considered necessary in Nigeria’s squad for their next assignment, recalling Paul Onuachu, Cyriel Dessers and fixing Gift Orban’s nationality and then calling up any of the three will be of great advantage to the team as they all offer something different in terms of how they play up front.
Onuachu hasn’t been with the team since the last AFCON in Ivory Coast and the Southampton man has regained his confidence with his recent goal involvements for the club in the EPL. He has three (two goals and one assist) in his last five games.
Dessers also has eight goals and two assists this season while Orban has scored three goals in six games since joining Hoffenheim in January.
Adebayo Adeleye
Before Stanley Nwabali locked down the Super Eagles goalkeeping position, Adeleye had been invited into the team twice and got his first real chances in a 3-2 win over Sierra Leone during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. Though he conceded twice, his performance in the game was commended but unfortunately, an unstable club career has seen him fall out of the national team set-up.
Now, the 24-year-old keeper is back with Paralimni in Cyprus with 21 appearances so far this season. According to stats recorded by Flashscore, he has faced 131 shots for the struggling team this season, saving 106 and keeping four clean sheets in the process.
With the seeming lack of depth in the goalkeeping department, Adeleye could also provide the needed competition for Nwabali between the sticks.