Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has announced Nigeria’s final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, bringing back goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and striker Paul Onuachu, while leaving out Maduka Okoye and Tolu Arokodare.
The list, released on Thursday, features three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and nine forwards for the tournament holding from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco.
Chelle has injected fresh energy into the team with several first-time call-ups which includes:
Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers), who earns his first senior invitation.
Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague) joins the central defence.
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Inter Milan), Usman Muhammed (Israel), and Tochukwu Nnadi boost the midfield.
Up front, former Flying Eagles forward Lawal Salim Fago, now in Croatia, receives his maiden call-up.
Uzoho, who last played for Nigeria in March 2024, returns to the goalkeeping department. He is joined by Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United) who is still uncertain due to injury concerns and Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars)
Fulham’s Calvin Bassey makes his second AFCON appearance, lining up alongside established defenders like luwasemilogo Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi
Nigeria’s midfield is built around familiar and experienced names like Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika
Reigning African superstar Victor Osimhen headlines the attack. Supporting him are Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers and now Paul Onuachu, included for the first time under Chelle after a strong run of form in Turkey
Nigeria begins its AFCON campaign on December 23 against Tanzania in Fès. The highly anticipated clash with Tunisia comes on December 27, while the group stage wraps up on December 31 with Nigeria facing Uganda.
Ahead of the tournament, the Eagles will hold a pre-AFCON camp in Egypt, where they are also expected to play an unofficial friendly against the host nation on December 16.
Nigeria, runners-up at the last edition after losing 2–1 to Ivory Coast, will be chasing a fourth AFCON title, having last won in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
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