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The Super Eagles have set the stage for one of the most dramatic selection battles in Nigerian football history. Head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled a 55-man provisional squad for the upcoming AFCON 2025 in Morocco, a list that blends established stars, rising talents and domestic hopefuls. With only 28 spots available, the coming weeks promise suspense, debate and fierce competition.
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Nigeria will face Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda in Group C, a group that looks manageable on paper but will demand discipline and consistency. The provisional squad must be cut down by 11 December, ahead of the tournament’s kick-off on 21 December.
This unusually large list reflects Chelle’s desire to cast a wide net, balancing experience with experimentation. It also signals the depth of Nigerian football today. A depth that many argue is strong enough to deliver the nation’s fourth AFCON title.
At the heart of the squad are the stars fans know and trust:
Victor Osimhen – Nigeria’s talisman, whose fitness will be closely monitored.
Ademola Lookman – fresh off a stellar season in Serie A.
Alex Iwobi – Fulham’s midfield engine, who has boldly predicted Nigeria will win AFCON 2025.
Wilfred Ndidi – the defensive shield.
William Troost-Ekong – captain and defensive leader.
Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Calvin Bassey, Stanley Nwabali – all proven performers.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who became a national hero at AFCON 2023, will battle Maduka Okoye for the No. 1 shirt, setting up one of the most intriguing selection dilemmas.
The squad also highlights Nigeria’s next generation:
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen) – versatile and creative.
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge) – a midfield enforcer.
NPFL talents like Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ebenezer Harcourt, Ekeson Okorie, Chisom Orji, Adekunle Adeleke – representing the domestic league’s hunger and ambition.
Injured stars Ola Aina and Felix Agu were included, suggesting Chelle is betting on their recovery.
Nigeria’s AFCON history offers valuable perspective:
1994 (Tunisia): The Super Eagles, led by Rashidi Yekini, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Daniel Amokachi, combined flair with discipline to win their second AFCON title. That squad was celebrated for its balance – a mix of European-based stars and homegrown talent.
2013 (South Africa): Stephen Keshi’s team shocked the continent by winning Nigeria’s third AFCON, relying on a blend of experienced internationals and NPFL players like Sunday Mba, whose goal sealed the final.
The 2025 squad echoes both eras: star power up front, depth in midfield, and a willingness to trust domestic talent. History suggests that such balance is often the recipe for success.
This is arguably one of the most complete squads Nigeria has assembled in recent years. If Chelle makes the right calls and the stars stay fit, the Super Eagles have everything it takes to lift the trophy in Morocco.
Fans will be glued to every update as the Super Eagles march toward Morocco, waiting to see who survives the cut, and whether this blend of stars and newcomers can finally deliver AFCON glory.
