Eric Chelle Leaves Okoye, Iheanacho Out of Nigeria’s Tanzania Qualifiers

What changed

Nigeria coach Eric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for a two-match 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series against Tanzania without goalkeeper Maduka Okoye or forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

Iheanacho’s omission stands out because he has been scoring regularly. The squad announcement gives no reason for leaving either player out.

Why it matters

Chelle has made two notable selection calls before Nigeria’s meetings with Tanzania. Leaving out Okoye changes the goalkeeping options, while excluding Iheanacho removes a forward arriving with recent scoring form.

That makes the squad less about reputation and more about the coach’s current assessment of what Nigeria needs across the double-header. The key question is whether the players Chelle selected can deliver enough control and goals without two familiar names in the group.

For now, the practical consequence is simple: Okoye and Iheanacho will not be part of Nigeria’s plans for these Tanzania qualifiers, and their absence will shape the team’s choices when the matches are played.