Revealed: List of foreign-based players Chelle wishes to call up

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and his team of assistants are eager to cap as many players eligible to represent the Nigerian national team through their Nigerian ancestry. The tactician aims to bring more competition into the Super Eagles squad.

“The new players will challenge the ones in the team, and this can only be good for Nigeria,” Chelle said.

These players are generally young, vibrant, and playing regularly at their respective clubs in Europe.

Chelle has already mentioned Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri, as well as Chelsea loanees Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu. He revealed an exhaustive list of potential targets, some of whom he hopes to have soon, with the support of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the international break in June, when the Super Eagles will play three friendlies.

The players on Chelle’s radar include:

• Noah Atubolu – Freiburg’s No. 1 goalkeeper, who has set several records in the Bundesliga this season. He has represented various German age-grade teams.
• George Ilenikhena – AS Monaco striker, who has been capped by France at U21 level.
• Michael Kayode – Highly-rated fullback, capped by Italy at U21 level, currently on loan at Brentford in the Premier League.
• Felix Agu – The 25-year-old Werder Bremen left-back, capped by Germany U21s.
• Kazeem Olaigbe – The 22-year-old winger, recently transferred from Belgian club Cercle Brugge to French Ligue 1 club Rennes.
• Caleb Okoli – Leicester City central defender who moved from Italy’s Serie A.

• Jacob Murphy – Newcastle United winger, whose father is Nigerian.
• Josh Maja – Already capped by the Super Eagles, Maja has scored goals in the English Championship for West Bromwich Albion this season, despite recently being injured.
• Chuba Akpom – The former Arsenal and Ajax striker, now at Lille in France, has switched his international allegiance from England.
• Samuel Edozie – Manchester City Academy graduate, now on loan at Anderlecht from Southampton.
• Ahmed Abdullahi – Flying Eagles striker, who played at the 2023 U20 AFCON and joined Sunderland from Belgium in the January transfer window.
• Victor Udoh – Golden Eaglets winger who signed for Premier League club Southampton from Antwerp, Belgium.
• Kingsley Ehizibue – Rugged, hard-tackling defender formerly with FC Cologne, now with Udinese in Italy.
• Tosin Adarabioyo – Chelsea central defender, long linked with the Super Eagles.
• Carney Chukwuemeka – Chelsea loanee to Borussia Dortmund, capped by England at youth level.
• Lesley Ugochukwu – Another Chelsea loanee, currently at Southampton, capped by France at U21 level.
• Ethan Nwaneri – Teenaged sensation who has impressed for Arsenal in the absence of injured Bukayo Saka.
• Tino Anjorin – Former promising Chelsea Academy midfielder, now with Empoli in Italy.
• Ebenezer Akinsanmiro – Inter Milan loanee at Sampdoria. A highly-rated midfielder who signed for Inter from Remo Stars.
• Uche Chrisantus – A versatile midfielder or striker, who has caught the eye in his debut La Liga season with Getafe after rising through Spanish lower leagues.