Former Super Eagles defender Augustine Eguavoen has expressed his concerns over Eric Chelle’s 39-man squad selection ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The former KRC Genk star believes it would be unjust if Kelechi Iheanacho, currently on loan at Middlesbrough, fails to make the final cut for the crucial encounters.
In preparation for the must-win games, Malian tactician Chelle expanded his squad from the usual 23 players to a 39-man provisional list, featuring several top talents, including Sevilla-owned stars.
However, speculation within the Nigerian football scene suggests that Iheanacho could be among the players dropped from the final squad. For Eguavoen, excluding the Leicester City forward after initially naming him in the provisional list would be unfair.
“It’s not fair on Kelechi Iheanacho if Eric Chelle makes a 39-man list and he isn’t involved. If it’s a 23 or 25-man list, that’s fine,” Eguavoen stated via MNF, as quoted by Brila Media.
With Chelle expected to announce his final squad this week, anticipation is high as the Super Eagles gear up for action.
Meanwhile, Iheanacho has struggled for regular playing time under Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, failing to find the back of the net in his last five appearances.
Nigeria will first travel to Kigali to face Rwanda on March 21, before returning to host Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on March 25.
Should Iheanacho secure his spot in the final squad, the former Leicester City attacker will be eager to make a strong impact and prove his worth in the upcoming fixtures.
