Nigeria leave out Osimhen and Chukwueze for World Cup
Nigeria have named a 23-man squad without injured Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Both Napoli striker Osimhen and AC Milan winger Chukwueze were injured on international duty last month and are yet to recover.
Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen and Nice striker Terem Moffi have been invited for the qualifiers.
Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella, 24, was also handed his first-ever call-up.
Nigeria host Lesotho at Uyo on November 16, before playing Zimbabwe in Rwanda three days later.
South Africa, Rwanda and Benin are the other teams in their qualifying group with the overall winners automatically advancing to the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC/CYP), Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC), Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio/ITA)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest/ENG); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC/POR), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC/TUR), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC/POR), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC/TUR), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC/ENG), Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC/WAL)
Midfielders: Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge/BEL), Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC/ENG), Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC/ENG), Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC/ENG)
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City/ENG), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad/SPA), Moses Simon (FC Nantes/FRA), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC/ITA), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice/FRA), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)
