By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle is set to unveil his official squad today for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff in Morocco, where the team will face Gabon for a spot at the global tournament.
Sources close to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) indicate that invitation letters and travel arrangements have already been sent to selected players ahead of the squad’s camp opening in the coming days.
The anticipated list is expected to feature a blend of emerging talents and seasoned campaigners, as Chelle aims to strike a balance between youthful energy and experienced leadership for the high-stakes encounter.
Since taking charge earlier this year, Chelle has closely monitored Nigerian players performing across Europe and Africa, with selections likely reflecting current form rather than past reputation.
The playoff in Morocco represents a decisive step toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and fans are eager to see which players Chelle will trust to lead Nigeria back to football’s biggest stage.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
