2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - QUALIFIED TEAMS

So far, nine African national teams have qualified.

30 Nov 2025
2025 - CAF - PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Hakimi crowned winner

Chebbak makes it a Moroccan double

21 Nov 2025
2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - CAF - PRELIMINARY STAGE - DR Congo is still in the game

Congo DR can still dream of a return to the World Cup

17 Nov 2025
2025 - CAF - PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Hakimi and Salah on shortlist

Hakimi and Salah lead the contenders on the 10-man shortlist

1 Nov 2025
2026 World Cup Qualifiers - CAF - Preliminary Stage - Ivory Coast and Senegal claimed qualifying spots

Ivory Coast and Senegal won their matches

22 Oct 2025
2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - FIFA - PRELIMINARY STAGE - TEAMS TO SECURE THEIR PLACE AT THE 2026 WORLD CUP

The 2026 World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the USA from 11 June to 19 July

20 Oct 2025
2025 World Cup - FIFA - Morocco crowned U20 world champions

The U20 Atlas Lion stunned Argentina 2:0

19 Oct 2025
2026 World Cup Qualifiers - CAF - Preliminary Stage - October 2025

Ranking after eight matches

10 Oct 2025

NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - SQUAD - Nigeria recall Olympic star Oghenekaro Etebo

World Cup 2018 Qualifiers Oghenekaro Etebo

 

Oghenekaro Etebo scored four goals to help Nigeria clinch bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has named Oghenekaro Etebo in his 24-man squad for next month's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Uyo.

Etebo, who plays for CD Feirense in Portugal, scored four goals to help Nigeria clinch bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"I am delighted to be recalled and I hope to give my best to the country as always," Etebo told BBC Sport following his first call-up under the new national manager.

Premier League duo Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo are also included.

Chelsea's Moses is back to full fitness, and Watford striker Ighalo returns having been excused from the Zambia game to bury his father.

There are recalls for midfielder John Ogu, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu and Germany-based defender Leon Balogun.

The only uncapped player in the squad is little known defender Tyronne Ebuehi from Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only player from the Nigeria premier league picked as the competition is on a break.

Three-time African champions Nigeria are top of Group B in their qualifying race for Russia after a hard-fought 2-1 win in Zambia.


The full squad:

Goalkeepers: 

Carl Ikeme 
(Wolverhampton Wanderers, England)

Ikechukwu Ezenwa 
(FC IfeanyiUbah)

Dele Alampasu 
(FC Cesarense, Portugal)


Defenders: 

Leon Balogun 
(FSV Mainz 05, Germany)

William Troost-Ekong 
(Haugesund FC, Norway)

Kenneth Omeruo 
(Alanyaspor FC, Turkey)

Uche Henry Agbo 
(Granada FC, Spain)

Tyronne Ebuehi 
(ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands)

Abdullahi Shehu 
(Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus)

Musa Muhammed 
(Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey)

Elderson Echiejile 
(Standard Liege, Belgium)

Kingsley Madu 
(SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)


Midfielders: 

John Mikel Obi 
(Chelsea FC, England)

Ogenyi Onazi 
(Trabzonspor FC, Turkey)

Wilfred Ndidi
(KRC Genk, Belgium)

Oghenekaro Etebo 
(CD Feirense, Portugal)

John Ogu 
(Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)


Forwards: 

Ahmed Musa 
(Leicester City, England)

Kelechi Iheanacho 
(Manchester City, England)

Moses Simon 
(KAA Gent, Belgium)

Victor Moses 
(Chelsea FC, England)

Odion Ighalo 
(Watford FC, England)

Brown Ideye 
(Olympiacos FC, Greece)

Alex Iwobi 
(Arsenal FC, England)

 

1 Nov 2016
(BBC Sport, Lagos by Oluwashina Okeleji)

Related countries

Related articles