2026 World Cup - Cape Verde - National-Team - Squad

the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup

31 May 2026
2026 World Cup - South Africa - National-Team - Squad

the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup

28 May 2026
2026 World Cup - Ghana - National-Team - Squad

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has named a 28-man squad

28 May 2026
2026 World Cup - Egypt - National-Team - Squad

Mohamed Salah has been Egypt captain since 2019

27 May 2026
2026 World Cup - Senegal - National-Team - Squad

Sadio Mane missed the 2022 World Cup with a knee injury

21 May 2026
Stars in Europe - France - Keyplayer - Dayot Upamecano

wins a high percentage of defensive duels 

6 May 2026
Stars in Europe - France - Keyplayer - Michael Olise

he is known for his creativity, dribbling, and flair.

4 May 2026

NATIONAL TEAM - Nigeria - Lukman Haruna hopeful over World Cup prospects

Overlooked by predecessor Samson Siasia and current manager Stephen Keshi, Haruna is confident he has done enough at club level to remain in the coach's World Cup thoughts.

"I understand my injury history had a role to play for a period of time but I'm in great shape right now," Haruna told BBC Sport.

"It's not an easy job for a coach to manage Nigeria with a lot of quality players in Europe, Asia and Africa.

"I just hope I've done enough at club level to be given a chance to fight for a place in the squad."

With the Ukrainian league season kicking off amid chaos in the country, Haruna has not given up hope of going to Brazil in the summer.

"When I played in South Africa I was very young and a little inexperienced," he said.

"Since then there have been highs and lows in my career but I'm more mature and hope to fulfil a dream by working extra hard to earn a recall.

"It's a massive two months for me to prove myself again because if it goes well then I'll have another chance."

The midfielder scored three goals in 15 league appearances for Dynamo Kiev last season and has a solitary goal in seven appearances for the African champions.

Haruna is one of only two players to have represented Nigeria at the Fifa under-17, U-20 and senior World Cups.

His European career began in France when he joined AS Monaco in 2007 shortly after he captained Nigeria to the Under-17 World Cup title in South Korea.

He signed for Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev in June 2011 after completing a US$2.8 million switch from Monaco.
 

16 Mar 2014
(BBC Sport, Lagos by Oluwashina Okeleji)

Related countries

Related articles