Jordan Torunarigha has been drafted into Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, replacing the injured Nathan Tella.
Tella, who was initially included in Eric Chelle’s 23-man squad, has withdrawn due to injury concerns.
The Bayer Leverkusen winger was an unused substitute in his team’s 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich, and, Xabi Alonso confirmed that he was not fully fit to play.
With no signs of improvement, the decision was made to pull him out of Nigeria’s squad to allow him time to recover.
With two crucial fixtures ahead, Chelle has turned to Torunarigha to bolster the squad.
The 27-year-old defender was originally named in the 39-man provisional list but did not make the final cut.
Now, he gets another opportunity to prove himself at the international level.
“Camp Update: Jordan Torunarigha has been called to replace injured Nathan Tella. We wish Nathan a quick recovery,” a Super Eagles post confirmed.
Torunarigha last featured for Nigeria in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers and has just one senior cap to his name.
Known for his composure on the ball and strong defensive positioning, Torunarigha has also contributed one assist.
His inclusion provides more options for Chelle as Nigeria prepares for two must-win matches.
The Super Eagles will face Rwanda in Kigali before returning home to host Zimbabwe in Uyo.
Having secured just a point from four games, Nigeria is under pressure to claim maximum points and turn around their fortunes to stand a chance of qualifying in Group C.
Failure to qualify for the last World Cup was a major disappointment for Nigeria, and the team is eager to avoid another setback.
