The Super Eagles squad is under the spotlight as it prepares for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The team’s newly-appointed head coach Finidi George recently announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Benin Republic and South Africa.

The Super Eagles have retained 16 players from the silver-winning 2023 AFCON squad for their decisive matches against South Africa and Benin in June. 

Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Victor Boniface will lead the attack. Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, and Stanley Nwabali are also included, but captain William Troost-Ekong is absent due to injury.

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye returns after missing the AFCON. This means Nwabali will need to compete with Okoye for a starting post. Nwabali’s call was linked to his transfer rumors to Kaizer Chiefs and his strong performance against Bafana in the AFCON.

Victor Osimhen made a comeback in Napoli’s final Serie A match after being sidelined with a muscle injury. His prospect of returning to the field boosts Nigeria’s prospects for the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Sadiq Ismael has received his first call-up.

With a strong squad comprising talented players and a series of crucial qualifiers ahead, Nigeria’s prospects look promising. However, there are areas that need attention to ensure their success on the global stage.

Familiar faces

The Nigerian Football Federation appointed Finidi with the mission of leading Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup. Now, Finidi is under pressure to secure positive results after initial draws in the Group C qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Nigeria’s World Cup squad is notably strong. Key players like Lookman and Osimhen have been instrumental in their respective club performances. However, the squad will be facing a familiar face in the upcoming match. 

Their former mentor Gernot Rohr is now devising tactics for Benin. Rohr will lead Benin against his former team in the crucial qualifier in June. 

Rohr is Nigeria’s longest-serving coach. The German tactician led the Super Eagles from August 2016 to December 2021, earning a bronze medal at the 2019 AFCON. 

The 70-year-old coach has named a 25-man squad, including 19 foreign-based players and six locals. The squad will feature experienced forward Steve Mounie and Nigerian-born players Ayegun Tosin and Samson Akinyoola for the matches against Rwanda and Nigeria.

South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos has also selected a provisional 36-player squad for Bafana Bafana ahead of its World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Key players include Ronwen Williams, Bruce Bvuma, Innocent Maela, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Percy Tau, and Lyle Foster. The final 23-man squad will be announced soon.

The Nigeria-South Africa football rivalry is intense. Nigeria recently defeated South Africa in the 2023 AFCON knockout stages. Hence, the World Cup’s Group C will be the perfect stage for vengeance. The Nigerian squad is winless so far. South Africa has one win against Benin but lost to Rwanda, who lead with four points.

Areas for Improvement

Nigeria has participated in a total of six World Cups. Nigeria made an impressive debut performance in 1994 when the squad was placed in Group D and advanced to the Round of 16 before being defeated by Italy 2-1 in extra time.

Despite the promising past, the current squad faces criticism after lackluster performances in their first two 2026 World Cup qualifiers under former coach Jose Peseiro. Peseiro’s contract eventually expired in February and his assistant Finidi replaced him. 

This brings new variables for fans and pundits to consider before making predictions or placing their wagers on Sportsbet.

Finidi led Nigeria in two recent friendlies, winning against Ghana but losing to Mali. The former Ajax and Real Betis winger is expected to revive Nigeria’s World Cup campaign. Finidi’s impressive playing career includes winning the Nations Cup in 1994 and scoring the goal that qualified Nigeria for their first World Cup.

As a coach, he aims to leverage his experience and effectively manage Nigeria’s talent. While Nigeria’s attacking capabilities are impressive, the team needs to focus on improving its defensive organization and midfield control. 

Pundits highlight midfield issues, with critics arguing that the current midfielders wouldn’t have made the past Nigerian teams’ selection. The absence of John Obi Mikel since his 2019 retirement remains a problem. The squad’s goalkeepers are also also under scrutiny.

Former players Duke Udi and Peter Rufai stressed the need for team cohesion and a collective team effort to improve. Addressing these areas will be crucial for Nigeria to advance further in the tournament.