2026 WCQ: Africa’s best Ademola Lookman, 83-cap ex-Arsenal man and Mourinho’s boy storm Nigeria camp 

African footballer of the year Ademola Lookman headlines a list of nine players who arrived at Super Eagles camp this morning ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. 

Lookman arrived with William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Joseph Ayodele Aribo and Igoh Ogbu, who is one of the new players in the squad named by Eric Chelle. 

Former Arsenal man Alex Iwobi is also among the players who arrived on Tuesday morning and will be hoping to make his 84th cap when the Super Eagles play Rwanda on Friday. 

Bright Osayi-Samuel, who plays for Mourinho’s Fenerbahce is also part of the latest arrivals alongside Calvin Bassey and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina.

With the arrival of these eight players, the number of players in the Super Eagles camp increased to 21, with Chelle waiting on Umar Sadiq and Alhassan Yusuf for a complete squad. 

The Malian tactician will be happy to see the players arrive early, especially Victor Osimhen, who was one of the first six players to land in Rwanda, where Friday’s game will take place. 

Chelle is expected to conduct his first training session today and that will give him a chance to take a first look at all the players. 

Super Eagles players in camp: Amas Obasogie, Tolu Arokodare, Kayode Bankole, Victor Osimhen, Bruno Onyemaechi, Papa Daniel, Simon Moses, Victor Boniface, Raphael Onyedika, Jordan Torunarigha, Stanley Nwabali, Samuel Chukwueze, Bright Osayi, Ighoh Ogbu, William Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Joseph Aribo and Bright Osayi-Samuel. 

The importance of the Super Eagles getting the maximum points in these two qualifiers cannot be overemphasised. Anything other than a win in the two games, starting against Rwanda, could end Nigeria’s hopes of playing the 2026 World Cup.

The three-time African champions are already playing catch up as they sit fifth in a group of six, four points behind Friday’s opponents. 

Friday’s match against Rwanda will take place at Amahoro Stadium, with kickoff set for 5 PM Nigerian time.