Two home-based players from the NPFL are found on Nigeria’s 23-man list by Coach Eric Chelle, but the question is, is this for integrating or development of talent from the Nigeria Professional league into the national team setup or to win and qualify for the World Cup.
The two are Kayode Bankole Remo Stars goalkeeper and Papa Daniel Mustapha, Niger Tornadoes midfielder.
Compared to his colleagues, Coach Adel Amrouche from Rwanda, who invited 13 local players and 15 others from the foreign leagues for the team, and coach Michael Nees of Zimbabwe, who only has fewer than 10 players as foreign base players.
Although his final squad composition was picked according to the formation he intended to use. I think it is 4-4-2. It comprises three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and eight attackers for the two crucial matches.
But my fear is that here is African football, where our game is physical and powerful and the majority of our players are foreign-based players that don’t want to lose their job because of injuries.
Our last encounter with the team at home, losing 1-2 to Rwanda, was basically about how our lovely players try to be very careful in contact with the ball and opponents so that they won’t have injuries.

Nigeria and Rwanda have met in seven previous encounters, which Nigeria has won twice, drawn four times, and lost once. Interestingly, part of this is that Nigeria has visited Rwanda three times. All three times Nigeria came home playing draws, but the only goal scored on Rwandan soil came from Obafemi Martins in a 2005 World Cup qualifier.

LIST OF 23 SUPER EAGLES FOR RWANDA, ZIMBABWE GAMES
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)

Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Simon Moses (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Valencia FC, Spain); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium)

List of four new players in the squad

Tolu Arokodare (Genk), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague), Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), and goalkeeper Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars).

Rwanda vs Nigeria: Match details
Competition: FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers – Africa
Fixture: Rwanda vs Nigeria
Venue: Amahoro Stadium, Kigali
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Kick-off: 5 pm (Nigerian time)