Chelle publishes list of provisional Super Eagles invitees for African Cup of Nations

SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has released his provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with very few surprises as his 53-man squad contains all the usual suspects and includes a few new faces.

Despite rumours that the likes of Victor Osimhen might miss the Nations Cup due to injury and talk of William Ekong and Ola Aina considering retiring from international football, they are all in the squad. With the Nations Cup due to begin at the end of the month, Mr Chelle has to find way to pick the team up as they will be psychologically down after missing out on the World Cup.

Last month, Nigeria missed out on a World Cup play-off place after being eliminated in the African play-off final, when the Eagles lost out on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This will make it the second successive World Cup Nigeria misses out on and Mr Chelle will thus have a hard job lifting the morale of his players.

Taking place in Morocco, the African Nations Cup will hold between Sunday December 21 2025 and Sunday January 18 2026. This will be the first time the tournament has taken place over the Christmas and New Year period in an event taking place in six host cities across nine stadia.

Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. Originally, the tournament was planned to take place during the summer in order to avoid club impact but the expansion and re-scheduling of the Club World Cup meant it had to be pushed back.

Full list:

Goalkeepers:

Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye and Ebenezer Harcourt.

Defenders:

William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Igoh Ogbu, Chidozie Awaziem, Felix Agu, Ryan Alebiosu, Adeleke Adekunle and Emmanuel Michael.

Midfielders:

Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf, Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Tochukwu Nnadi, Usman Muhammed, Peter Agba, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Christantus Uche.

Forwards:

Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Victor Boniface, Cyriel Dessers, Sadiq Umar, Nathan Tella, Tolu Arokodare, Chidera Ejuke, Olakunle Olusegun, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Paul Onuachu, Abdulrasshed Shehu, Rafiu Durosinmi, Ekeson Okorie, Chisom Orji, Philip Otele, Salim Fago, Ikwuemesi Chukwubuikem and Adams Akor.