Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has made a change to his 23-man Super Eagles squad ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Forward Nathan Tella, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, has been ruled out due to injury and will miss the upcoming fixtures. To fill the gap, coach Chelle has called up defender Jordan Torunarigha. The team confirmed the change on Thursday morning, wishing Tella a swift recovery.
“Jordan Torunarigha has been called to replace injured Nathan Tella. We wish Nathan a quick recovery,” the team announced on their X account.
This adjustment comes as Nigeria prepares for two crucial matches that are vital to keeping their World Cup hopes alive. Currently sitting fifth in their qualifying group behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and Lesotho, the Super Eagles need wins against Rwanda on March 21 and Zimbabwe on March 25 to stay in the race for 2026.
Since taking over in January, Coach Chelle has been working to improve the squad’s performance after a slow start to the qualifying campaign. Torunarigha’s inclusion strengthens the defense, adding depth alongside players like William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and new call-up Igoh Ogbu.
With strategic adjustments and a mix of seasoned and fresh talent, the Super Eagles aim to secure crucial victories and improve their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
