Victor Osimhen will lead Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their pursuit for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title as head coach Eric Chelle unveiled his final 28-man squad for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
The Nigeria Football Federation published the names on Thursday ahead of the November 11 deadline issued by CAF to participating nations to confirm their squad for the 2025 AFCON.
Despite earlier doubts surrounding his availability for the tournament after injury kept him out of action for some time for his club, Chelle named goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in his squad and will remain Nigeria’s first choice in Morocco.
In a shocking move, the coach dropped Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from the final list, with Francis Uzoho returning to the fold after consistently going unselected for Nigeria matches for more than one year.
William Troost-Ekong’s sudden retirement from international football and injury sustained by Benjamin Fredrick created opportunities for Igoh Ogbu to return to the national team while Ryan Alebiosu received his first call-up to boost the defensive line.
Usman Muhammed, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Tochukwu Nnadi and Salim Fago Lawal will be joining up with the group for the first time. Meanwhile, in-form forward Paul Onuachu returned to the team after scoring 11 goals for Trabzonspor in the league this season to lead the Turkish Super Lig scoring chart.
The Super Eagles are in Group C of the AFCON alongside 2004 champions Tunisia, 1978 runners-up Uganda, and Tanzania. Nigeria’s first match is on December 23 against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, where they will also tackle Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles (December 27) and the Cranes of Uganda (December 30).
Full AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel); Tochukwu Nnadi (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961, Croatia); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece).