Among the 22 players selected for the Super Eagles 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho’s Crocodiles, eight are at risk of suspension based on FIFA’s regulations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Based on information obtained from the Super Eagles’ social media accounts on Wednesday, several players are at risk of receiving a suspension.
These players include Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi (both from Fulham), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), and Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos).
Each of them is just one yellow card away from a ban, as they have already received bookings in previous qualifying matches.
Fullbacks Jamilu Collins, Sodiq Ismail, and Bright Osayi-Samuel, along with striker Umar Sadiq, would have also been in a similar situation but were not included in the latest squad.
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Osayi-Samuel from Birmingham City withdrew due to injury, while the others were left out by manager Eric Chelle.
According to FIFA’s rules for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, any player who receives two yellow cards in different matches will automatically be suspended for the next game.
This means that key players like Nwabali, Lookman, Ndidi, Bassey, and Iwobi need to maintain their composure against Lesotho on Friday to avoid missing next Tuesday’s crucial match against Gernot Rohr’s Benin in Uyo.
Semi Ajayi may be included in the starting lineup if Chelle decides to use a back-three formation.
Interestingly, Nigeria is the only team in Group C that has not yet had a player suspended during the qualifying campaign.
