Newly appointed Nigeria head coach, Finidi George, has unveiled his Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana and Benin.
The Nigeria Football Federation recently named George as the permanent head coach, hoping he can guide the team to success following a sluggish start in Group C.
Having recently reached the final of the 2023 AFCON, the Super Eagles are eager for a positive result against South Africa, having drawn with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in previous matches.
In the next fixture, Nigeria will welcome Hugo Broos’ side, who have accumulated three points from two games by defeating Benin 2-1 but suffering a surprising 2-0 loss to Rwanda.
Historically, Nigeria and South Africa have met on 13 occasions, with Bafana Bafana securing only one victory, while the Super Eagles have triumphed in eight encounters. Their most recent clash at the AFCON semi-final resulted in a 1-1 draw, with Nigeria advancing to the final after a penalty shootout.
George’s squad boasts top talents from overseas, including African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen, Bayer 04 Leverkusen duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, who recently clinched the Bundesliga title, and UEFA Europa League winner Ademola Lookman, who netted a hat-trick in the final.
Additionally, Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United has earned a spot in the squad following his exceptional performances during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
