Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle has announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming international friendly matches against Iran and Jordan. The fixtures, which were initially scheduled to be played in Amman, Jordan, have been relocated to Antalya, Turkey, due to escalating military tensions in the Middle East. Nigeria will first face Iran on March 27 at 4pm local time, followed by a match against Jordan on March 31 at 8pm.

A significant point of discussion is the omission of first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, a decision that highlights the uncertainty surrounding his future. Nwabali's absence stems from his abrupt exit from Chippa United in February, leaving him currently without a club. Striker Victor Osimhen is also notably absent from the squad, despite the matches taking place in Turkey, where he is currently based. This opens up opportunities for other players to stake their claim.

In Nwabali’s stead, the goalkeeping duties will be contested by Maduka Okoye of Udinese FC (Italy), Adebayo Adeleye of Volos FC (Greece), and Francis Uzoho of Omonia FC (Cyprus), all of whom have previous experience with the national team.

Coach Chelle has called upon a familiar core of players, with captain Wilfred Ndidi from Besiktas FC (Turkey), Alex Iwobi from Fulham FC (England), and Ademola Lookman from Atletico Madrid (Spain) headlining the list. The squad also features a mix of experience and promising new talent.

Making their first senior call-ups are Scotland-based defender Emmanuel Fernandez of Glasgow Rangers, Germany-based forward Philip Otele of Hamburger SV, and Belgium-based attacker Collins Yira Sor of KRC Genk. Adebayo Adeleye, who plays in Greece, also returns to the national team setup.

The defensive unit includes regulars such as Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), and Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic).

The midfield will see Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England), Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy) orchestrating play.

In attack, Chelle has opted for a blend of skill and power, with Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England), Simon Moses (Paris FC, France), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey), Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain), Philip Otele (Hamburger SV, Germany), and Collins Yira Sor (KRC Genk, Belgium) expected to lead the line.

These friendly matches are crucial for Coach Chelle to assess his squad depth and tactical options in preparation for upcoming competitive fixtures, providing an important evaluation opportunity for both established players and new prospects.