Super Eagles Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle has left out in-form Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche and Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers from Nigeria’s final 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The decision has sparked reactions from fans, given the players’ impressive performances for their clubs. Uche, a rising star at Getafe, has been a key figure this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 31 appearances. His strong performances have attracted interest from top European clubs, including Chelsea. Similarly, Dessers has been prolific for Rangers, scoring 22 goals and registering six assists across all competitions.
Chelle’s squad includes four new invitees: Tolu Arokodare, Papa Daniel Mustapha, Igoh Ogbu, and Kayode Bankole. Meanwhile, established players like Kelechi Iheanacho, Maduka Okoye, Zaidu Sanusi, Frank Onyeka, Chidera Ejuke, and Ahmed Musa were also left out.
Fans have expressed their disappointment, questioning why Dessers was dropped in favor of Sadiq Umar and why Joseph Ayodele-Aribo was picked over Uche. Many believe Dessers, with 10 goals and three assists in his last 13 games, deserved a spot, especially ahead of Victor Boniface, who has only scored twice this year after returning from injury.
Nigeria, currently fifth in Group C, faces Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25. With the pressure mounting, Chelle’s selection choices will be tested as the Super Eagles aim for crucial victories to revive their World Cup qualification hopes.
