Victor Boniface Misses Super Eagles Squad for World Cup Qualifiers Again

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the list of 23 players selected by Head Coach Eric Chelle for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic.

Notably, striker Victor Boniface is not part of the squad.

According to Werder Bremen’s coach, Horst Steffen, Boniface had been rested as a precaution due to a minor foot knock earlier in the week.

Steffen clarified that Boniface’s absence from training was part of a load management approach to safeguard his condition for Saturday’s game against St. Pauli.

Boniface’s absence from the Super Eagles squad comes amid his struggles with injuries and lack of goals for the national team.

Despite his impressive form at the club level, scoring 32 goals and providing 12 assists in 61 appearances, Boniface has yet to find the back of the net for Nigeria.

Chelle’s selected squad features a mix of experienced players and young talents, including Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi.

The team is led by captain William Ekong and will face Lesotho on October 10 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, followed by a match against Benin Republic on October 14 in Uyo.

The players are expected to report to South Africa from their various bases in Europe and elsewhere, converging in Polokwane on October 6.

Nigeria is currently third in the group, three points off the top two spots occupied by Benin Republic and South Africa.

The team will aim to secure wins in their upcoming matches to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.

The Super Eagles 23-man squad to battle Lesotho and Benin Republic

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)