When will Eric Chelle announce Super Eagles squad vs Madagascar & Guinea-Bissau?

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is expected to announce Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau this week, Soccernet.ng reports.

However, the Nigeria Football Federation has yet to confirm an exact date for the squad announcement as preparations intensify for the Super Eagles’ opening qualifier against Madagascar.

Nigeria will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to tackle Guinea-Bissau four days later.

When will Eric Chelle announce Super Eagles squad?

Reports indicate that Chelle is expected to unveil his AFCON qualifying squad during the current week, with the Super Eagles’ camp scheduled to open ahead of the September fixtures.

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Reports circulating in the Nigerian football community suggest that Chelle is set to name two separate squads this week. One will be for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, while the other will be used for Nigeria’s international friendly against Russia in October.

Soccernet.ng had also reported that Chelle was expected to announce two squads this week, with the regular Super Eagles players set to handle the competitive qualifiers before a largely younger group is considered for the Russia friendly.

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The exact date for the first announcement, however, remains unclear.

What to expect from the Super Eagles squad

Chelle is expected to retain the core of the Super Eagles squad for the Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau fixtures, although several injury concerns could influence his final selection.

Victor Osimhen's injury concern has raised concerns about his availability, while Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi is also expected to be unavailable.

There are also fitness concerns surrounding Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, Tochukwu Nnadi, Ryan Alebiosu and Femi Azeez ahead of the international window.

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One of the interesting developments could be the inclusion of new faces. George Ilenikhena has been tipped for a potential call-up, while goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo's return to the national team setup has already been confirmed by Charlton Athletic.

Chelle will therefore have to balance experience with the need to find solutions for the players unavailable for Nigeria's opening AFCON qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will be expected to start the campaign strongly against Madagascar before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

With Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON as one of the tournament's co-hosts, Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau face a particularly important battle for the remaining qualification spot in Group L.