Tella receives maiden Super Eagles call-up for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Bayer Leverkusen’s winger, Nathan Tella, has earned his inaugural call-up to the Nigerian national team for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November. Despite being born in England, the 24-year-old has opted to represent Nigeria internationally.

Manager Jose Peseiro unveiled a 23-man Super Eagles squad, comprising three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders, and eight forwards. Tella shares the spotlight with English Premier League luminaries such as Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest, Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester City, and Alex Iwobi from Fulham.

The initial clash will see Nigeria hosting Lesotho on November 17th, followed by an away game against Zimbabwe on November 20th. Notably, the Zimbabwe match will be held at the 20,000-capacity Huye Stadium in Butare, Rwanda, as no stadiums in Zimbabwe currently meet FIFA standards for hosting World Cup qualifiers.

For Tella, these qualifiers offer a platform to make a significant impact with the Super Eagles. After representing England at the youth level, the winger has chosen to don the colors of his parents’ homeland. Eager to justify Peseiro’s confidence in his selection, Tella aims to contribute to the team’s success.

With a balanced blend of youthful talent and seasoned players, Nigeria targets maximum points in these initial qualifiers to kickstart their 2026 World Cup campaign emphatically. The attacking prowess of Tella, Awoniyi, and Iheanacho assumes added importance, particularly in the absence of the recovering Victor Osimhen.

The full squad comprises:

GOALKEEPERS