Cyriel Dessers and Bright Osayi-Samuel will miss the Super Eagles‘ upcoming fixtures against Lesotho and Benin due to injury concerns.
Eric Chelle, the head coach, has summoned Crystal Palace midfielder Christantus Uche and Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi to strengthen the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, according to Soccernet.ng.
In recent weeks, the Nigerian national team has been plagued by a series of injuries affecting key players. Notable names such as Ola Aina, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Raphael Onyedika have all been sidelined at their respective clubs, forcing their exclusion from the upcoming international matches.
These injury setbacks have led to their omission from the roster for the crucial qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.
Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu was initially included in Chelle’s squad announced last week. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during a Bundesliga clash with St. Pauli, casting doubt over his availability for the international break.
The latest update from the official Super Eagles channels confirms that both Cyriel Dessers and Bright Osayi-Samuel have been ruled out due to their ongoing fitness issues.
It was previously reported that Dessers has been battling an ankle injury while playing for Panathinaikos, and Osayi-Samuel has been sidelined at Birmingham City, missing their recent fixture against Wrexham.
New Inclusions: Christantus Uche and Zaidu Sanusi Join the Super Eagles
In response to these absences, Coach Chelle has brought in Crystal Palace’s Christantus Uche and Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi to bolster the squad ahead of the matches against Lesotho and Benin.
Eric Chelle adjusts his 23-man roster by bringing in Zaidu Sanusi and Christantus Uche to replace the injured Cyriel Dessers and Bright Osayi-Samuel. #SoarSuperEagles #FIFAWCQ pic.twitter.com/PeC6VloKOh
– Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 4, 2025
Zaidu Sanusi, a seasoned defender for the Super Eagles, played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s runner-up finish at the previous Africa Cup of Nations. Despite being sidelined for over a year due to injuries, he is eager to reclaim his spot in the national team.
On the other hand, Christantus Uche is a promising newcomer who made his debut for the Super Eagles in June. His inclusion signals Coach Chelle’s confidence in his potential to contribute significantly in the upcoming qualifiers.