ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has released a 54-player provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, featuring the core of the team that recently fell short in the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
The list, announced on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, includes prominent regulars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Stanley Nwabali, Wilfred Ndidi, Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon.
Others returning to contention are Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Frank Onyeka, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong and Zaidu Sanusi.
One of the most significant omissions is 20-year-old defender Benjamin Fredrick, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s standout performers during the difficult World Cup qualifying campaign.
Fredrick is currently sidelined with an injury sustained at Denders FC and will be unavailable until after the tournament.
In contrast, Ola Aina appears on the list despite being out with a hamstring injury picked up during Nigeria’s match against South Africa in September.
The 29-year-old is expected to remain sidelined for more than three months but has nonetheless been included in Chelle’s plans.
Chelle also named Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho, Paul Onuachu, Taiwo Awoniyi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Francis Uzoho among the attackers and goalkeepers invited.
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, the Pisa SC midfielder, earned a place on the roster and will be hoping for a first-ever senior call-up.
The provisional squad also features several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players, including Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ebenezer Harcourt, Ekeson Okorie, Chisom Orji and Adekunle Adeleke.
A final selection of 28 players will be confirmed in the coming days.
The Super Eagles are expected to assemble at a training camp in Egypt on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, where they will play a series of friendly matches before the opening of the tournament on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.
Full Provisional Squad (54 Players)
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (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); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, 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 (OGC 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 (NK Istra 1961, Croatia); Emmanuel Michael (LASK, Austria).
