The Super Eagles’ final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco will be announced today, meeting the 11 December deadline set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
While most participating nations have already named their final 26-man squads over the past fortnight, Head Coach Chelle instead released an unusually large provisional list of 54 players, featuring several newcomers. The delay fuelled speculation that certain individuals were attempting to influence the selection process to secure places for their preferred players.
With Nigeria battling a series of injuries to key members of the team, today’s squad announcement is expected to give a clearer sense of what the country can realistically expect in Morocco. Many Nigerians are hopeful of an AFCON triumph, especially after the disappointment of missing the World Cup for the second consecutive cycle.
First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is the latest to be ruled out due to injury. His absence is likely to open the door for Udinese’s Maduka Okoye to regain the No.1 spot, while Francis Uzoho returns to the fold for the first time since his costly error against Ghana denied Nigeria a place at the 2022 World Cup.
The defence has also been hit hard, with several top players sidelined after injuries sustained during the failed World Cup qualifying campaign and playoffs. Ola Aina, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu are among those unavailable, while William Troost-Ekong’s recent retirement from international football has further weakened the backline.
Nigeria will begin their Group C campaign against Tanzania in Fes on 23 December. They will then face Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on Saturday, 27 December, before rounding off the group stage against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, 30 December.
