2026 WORLD CUP PLAY-OFFS:- Fitness boost for Chelle as key duo return
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been handed a major boost ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff campaign, as key players Samuel Chukwueze and Raphael Onyedika returned to action over the weekend.
Both players had been sidelined with injuries in recent weeks, raising concerns about their availability for the crucial qualifiers scheduled to begin on November 13.
Chukwueze made his comeback for Fulham in their emphatic 3–0 victory over
Wolverhampton Wanderers, coming on as a late substitute and playing the final 13 minutes after missing three matches due to a calf problem.
Similarly, Onyedika featured for Club Brugge, playing 64 minutes in their 2–1 win over Dender. The midfielder had been out of action with a hamstring injury but looked sharp on his return.
Their return to full fitness comes as a welcome relief for Chelle, who is expected to name his squad this week for the playoffs in Morocco, where Nigeria will face Gabon in the semifinal round.
With Chukwueze’s creativity on the wing and Onyedika’s energy in midfield, both players are expected to play crucial roles as Nigeria aims to secure a spot in the Intercontinental Playoff a key step toward qualifying for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
