Chelle Names 55-Man Provisional Squad As Super Eagles Begin AFCON Countdown

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled a heavyweight provisional squad of 55 players for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with captain William Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Stanley Nwabali leading the cast.

The announcement signals the start of Nigeria’s final preparations for the 35th edition of the tournament, where the Super Eagles will try to reclaim a continental crown they last lifted in 2013.

Chelle’s provisional list is packed with familiar faces from Europe’s top leagues. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Raphael Onyedika, as well as forwards Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Moses and Chidera Ejuke, all made the cut.

In a notable show of faith in domestic talent, Chelle also included Nigeria Premier Football League players Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ebenezer Harcourt, Ekeson Okorie, Chisom Orji and Adekunle Adeleke.

Officials confirmed that a final list of 28 players will be selected in the coming days.

The Super Eagles are due to open camp in Egypt on Wednesday, 10 December, where they will play warm-up matches before heading to Morocco. The tournament begins on Sunday, December 21.

Naija News reports that the Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.

Below is the full Super Eagles provisional squad released for AFCON 2025:

Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy); Adebayo Adeleye (Volos, Greece); Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos).

Defenders:
William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors).

Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel); Peter Agba (Maccabi Haifa, Israel); Tom Dele-Bashiru (Gençlerbirligi, Turkey).

Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolves, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic, Scotland); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen, Germany); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Terem Moffi (Nice, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece); Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes); Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic); Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United); Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves); Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (OH Leuven, Belgium); Philip Otele (Basel, Switzerland); Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961, Croatia); Emmanuel Michael (Linzer ASK, Austria).

Source: Naijanews