Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle Set to Invite Two New Players for Tournament in Jordan
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is reportedly preparing to invite two new players to the Nigerian national team squad for the upcoming international break in March 2026. This development comes as Nigeria prepares to participate in a four-nation invitational tournament in Amman, Jordan, where they will face both Jordan and Iran from March 27-31, 2026.
Nigeria's Return to International Action
The Super Eagles will reconvene for the first time in 2026 following their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they defeated Egypt to secure third place. This tournament in Jordan marks Nigeria's return to international football after their AFCON campaign, providing coach Chelle with an opportunity to assess his squad ahead of future competitions.
Despite ongoing discussions about his future with the Nigerian Football Federation, Chelle remains in charge of the national team and is actively preparing his squad for the Middle Eastern tournament. The coach is expected to announce his squad in the coming days, with particular attention on bolstering certain positions through new invitations.
The Two New Players Expected to Receive Call-Ups
According to reports from OwnGoal Nigeria, Chelle is expected to extend invitations to two players who have yet to feature for the Super Eagles. The first is Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, who is poised to earn his maiden call-up to the national team. Nwaiwu's potential inclusion comes as regular defenders Benjamin Fredrick and Semi Ajayi continue to recover from injuries.
Nwaiwu joined Turkish club Trabzonspor in January 2026 from Austrian side Wolfsberger and has since featured in eight matches across league and cup competitions, completing ninety minutes in seven of those appearances while keeping two clean sheets. Prior to his move to Turkey, the defender was a regular starter for Wolfsberger during the first half of the season, accumulating twenty-four appearances in all competitions this campaign.
Goalkeeping Options Under Consideration
The second player likely to receive his first Super Eagles invitation is Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. This potential call-up comes as first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali remains without a club following his contract termination with South African Premier Soccer League side Chippa United after AFCON 2025.
Nwabali admitted that he did not have another team lined up before requesting to leave Chippa United, believing the decision was in his best interest. If invited, Okonkwo would compete with current options Francis Uzoho and Amas Obasogie for the goalkeeping position, while the clubless Nwabali is expected to be omitted from the squad.
Okonkwo received FIFA clearance in January 2026 to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria, making him eligible for selection. The goalkeeper has featured thirty-five times for Wrexham this season, keeping nine clean sheets as the Welsh club continues its remarkable rise with ambitions of Premier League promotion.
Chelle's Track Record of Introducing New Talent
If these two invitations materialize, it will continue Chelle's pattern of introducing fresh talent to the Super Eagles squad. The coach previously invited six new players during the AFCON 2025 campaign, demonstrating his commitment to refreshing the national team roster with emerging talent.
Maduka Okoye, who declined the AFCON invitation to focus on his club career after serving a two-month suspension for a questionable booking, could also make a return to the squad, adding further depth to the goalkeeping options.
NFF's Position on Chelle's Future
The Nigerian Football Federation has responded to Eric Chelle's nineteen-point demand for a new contract through its general secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. The federation maintains a calm approach regarding the manager's future, expressing confidence that he will fulfill the final year of his current contract while continuing to lead the Super Eagles through upcoming competitions.
As preparations intensify for the Jordan tournament, Nigerian football fans will be watching closely to see how these potential new additions integrate into the squad and whether they can contribute to the Super Eagles' continued success on the international stage.
