Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will miss Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Lesotho due to injuries.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released the squad list for the November games, with 23 players selected.
Samuel Chukwueze is also absent, while under-fire goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is included. Nigeria, three-time African champions, will face Lesotho on November 16 and Zimbabwe on November 19 in Group C of the qualification series.
The squad includes players from clubs like Omonia FC, Udinese Calcio, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others.
The absence of key players like Osimhen and Ndidi poses a challenge for the Super Eagles in their quest for a place in the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
The team will need to overcome Lesotho and Zimbabwe to progress in a group that also features South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin.
The announcement of the squad highlights the mix of talent from various European leagues, showcasing the global reach of Nigerian footballers in top clubs abroad.
