The recently released Super Eagles squad for the final leg of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers by Eric Chelle has sparked a lot of reactions from Nigerians.
The manager unveiled a 23-man list that many felt was not reflective of how crucial the remaining games are. Fans and pundits alike pointed to the lean midfield, which has only four players, a number, widely considered inadequate.
Former Super Eagles winger Ahmed Garba, now a coach with Nigeria Premier League side Kano Pillars, in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa expressed belief that a few other players should have made the team.
Still, he continues to support the side and hopes Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup.
โAs we love to say in Nigeria, no list is ever complete, so I can give Eric Chelle the benefit of doubt from that angle,โ Garba, popularly known as โYaro Yaro,โ exclusively told Footy-Africa.
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Eric Chelle has unveiled his 23-man list for Octoberโs #FIFAWCQ vs Lesotho ๐ฑ๐ธ & Benin ๐ง๐ฏ.
๐ Captain William Troost-Ekong leads the team
๐ Semi Ajayi, Terem Moffi, Alhassan Yusuf & Olakunle Olusegun return
๐ Akorโฆ pic.twitter.com/QPuM9QJQPXโ ๐ณ๐ฌ Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 3, 2025
โFor instance, personally I felt Uche, yes, Uche, that boy that just went to Crystal Palace should be there. He is very versatile and can play in both midfield and attack. We need his energy and running because his type of player suits the kind of qualifiers we have in Africa.โ
Garba also said he expected Paul Onuachu, who has scored six goals for his club Trabzonspor this season, to be included among the attackers.
โI am a coach myself, so I do not really like overanalysing another coachโs selection. But someone like Paul Onuachu, who is in great form, should have been invited. We need his physical presence in the team, and he is doing very well for his club. He even scored in their last league game. I do not know coach Chelleโs plans, but if you ask me, Onuachu is another player I would have added to the list, considering the position we are in at the moment. Despite that, I wish the team all the best and I hope that we qualify for the World Cup,โ Garba added.
The Super Eagles, who are now in third place and just three points behind leaders Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, will face Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, on Friday, 10th October in a Matchday 9 encounter.
They then face Benin Republic in a decisive final Matchday clash on Tuesday, 14th October to round up the qualifiers.
