Thomas Tuchel has announced his first England squad after officially taking over as manager on January 1. The former Chelsea boss replaced Gareth Southgate, who stepped aside after the European Championship. In a surprising move, Tuchel’s squad does not include two Nigeria-eligible stars, providing the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) hope for a potential switch in international allegiance.
Tuchel’s decision has further fueled the NFF’s efforts to secure players of dual nationalities. Success stories such as Ademola Lookman, who was named the African Footballer of the Year shortly after choosing to represent Nigeria, have inspired the federation. Other successful switches include captain William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Maduka Okoye, and Leon Balogun.
However, some players, including Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, and Joshua Zirkzee, have opted to play for their European countries. The NFF remains hopeful as they focus on Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo, and Manchester United’s Chido Obi Martin.
Tuchel’s first squad announcement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia saw the inclusion of Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle United fullback Dan Burn. There were also returns for Chelsea’s Reece James, on-loan Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale, and Ajax’s Jordan Henderson.
Notably absent were Tosin Adarabioyo and Ethan Nwaneri, reigniting the NFF’s hopes of securing their services. Adarabioyo’s international future has been uncertain, with delays in his decision to switch. Nwaneri, who has represented England at youth levels, remains on the NFF’s radar.
This development underscores the ongoing efforts of the NFF to strengthen the Super Eagles by attracting top talents with dual nationalities. The federation’s determination to secure these players reflects their commitment to building a formidable national team capable of competing on the global stage.
