AFCON q’fiers: Chelle drops Okoye, Iheanacho, names Ndidi, Iwobi, 23 others

Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, has dropped goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and striker Kelechi Iheanacho from his 24-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania, with captain Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi named among the 24 invited players.

Okoye’s omission follows a difficult spell at Italian club Udinese, who lost 2-1 away to Akor Adams’ Venezia on Friday to stay bottom of Serie A.

It was Udinese’s eighth defeat in nine league games, while the goalkeeper also conceded five in the club’s 5-2 loss to Roma on October 31. Adams, who is in the squad, played the full match for Venezia but did not score.

Okoye had also drawn attention in September, when he joined camp late for the qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau after attending Udinese’s third-kit presentation in Milan. Chelle said he had granted him permission.

Iheanacho misses out despite 17 league goals for Turkish side Bursaspor.

The former Leicester City forward also scored in Nigeria’s 3-3 friendly draw with Russia in October, but was left out of the competitive squad.

Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo are the goalkeepers. Defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Samson Tijani, and forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman and Taiwo Awoniyi are also included, along with Turkey-based defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia-based wing-back Abdullahi Bewene.

The Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before the return at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.

Nigeria are second in Group L and must win both matches to boost their chances of securing the only ticket from the group to next summer’s finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.