Nigeria Targets Chelsea Duo Chukwuemeka & Ugochukwu for Super Eagles Switch

Eric Chelle, Nigeria's new coach, wants to bolster the Super Eagles with youthful players in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers in March 2026. Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka, both Chelsea midfielders, are reportedly on his tentative team list for the next matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Ugochukwu, a defensive midfielder on loan at Southampton, has played for France’s youth teams but has never been called up to the senior squad. Chukwuemeka, currently at Borussia Dortmund, has represented England at various youth levels. Both players are eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

Reports that the players have filed for a change of nationality have been denied by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Declaring the circulating report to be "fake," a top official explained that only federations are eligible to seek for such modifications.

Whether these Chelsea young players will commit to the Super Eagles in time for the next qualifiers is still up in the air as Chelle has not yet revealed his initial roster.