NFF publishes provisional list of 40 players as next year's African Cup of Nations looms

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have submitted a provisional 40-man Super Eagles list to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) ahead of next month's African Cup of Nations taking place in Ivory Coast.

Africa's most prestigious tournament will be taking place between January 13 and February 11 and Nigeria is one of the main contenders for the trophy. With the Super Eagles not firing on all cylinders at the moment, the NFF has decided to organise a training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

With the tournament now looming the NFF has invited 40 players to camp as part of a process that will see the list whittled down to 27. Nigeria, whose squad includes six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, eight midfielders and 13 forwards, has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

There are no major surprises on the roster, with Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro opting to work with majority of the players he has handed invitations to since he was appointed in 2022. Ahmed Musa, a veteran of three Nations Cup campaigns and William Troost-Ekong who were both absent from the squads for Nigeria's recent October and November internationals have been handed recalls.

Nigeria's opening game will be against Equatorial Guinea  at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on January 14. This will be followed by a match against hosts Ivory Coast on January 18 and then the final group match against  Guinea Bissau at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on January 22.

Full list

Goalkeepers:

Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia), Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem), Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba), Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United), Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance), Christian Nwoke (Sporting Lagos)

Defenders:

Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce), Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli), Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista), William Troost-Ekong (PAOK), Semi Ajayi (West Brom), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa), Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista), Jordan Torunarigha (Gent)

Midfielders:

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Joe Aribo (Southampton),  Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Alhassan Yusuf (Antwerp), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor), Raphael Onyedika Nwadike (Club Brugge), Kelechi Nwakali (Chaves)

Attackers:

Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice), Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Cyriel Dessers (Rangers), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen), Moses Simon (Nantes), Emmanuel Dennis (İstanbul Başakşehir), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)