In preparation for the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) set to hold in August 2025, Head Coach Eric Chelle has announced a 35-man provisional list for Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team, featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talents from the domestic scene.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, is exclusively reserved for players plying their trade in their national leagues.
Among those selected are the squad’s captain, Junior Nduka, and the influential Papa Daniel Mustapha—two players expected to bring leadership and tactical strength to Nigeria’s home-based contingent. The squad also includes some notable figures in the Nigeria Premier Football League, ensuring a solid foundation as the team enters camp.
The announcement was made on Friday through a statement by the Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire. Coach Chelle’s list features first-choice goalkeeper Henry Ani, joined by Kayode Bankole and Ebenezer Harcourt in the goalkeeping department, while the defensive unit includes the likes of Uzondu Harrison, Kabiru Mohammed, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi.
In midfield, familiar names such as Haddi Haruna and Saviour Isaac have been called upon, with additional depth provided by Adam Aminu, Adebayo Olamilekan, and Adejoh Ojonugwa. Upfront, the squad will look to the scoring prowess of forwards like Anas Yusuf, Sunday Megwo, Godwin Obaje, and Temitope Vincent to fire the team’s campaign.
The Super Eagles B side, which finished as runners-up in the 2018 edition of CHAN, will look to make a strong impact in this year’s tournament. Nigeria is drawn in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, Sudan, and Congo in what promises to be a tightly contested group. Two of Nigeria’s group matches—against Senegal and Sudan—are scheduled for the Amman Stadium on Zanzibar Island, while their third and final fixture against Congo will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
All 35 invited players are expected to report to the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on Monday, bringing along their international passports and valid club licenses. This training camp is seen as critical in shaping the final squad, which will be trimmed down before the team departs for East Africa.
Chelle’s selection reflects a strategic blend of youth and experience, aiming to craft a cohesive unit capable of challenging for continental glory. With the right preparation, the Super Eagles B will hope to replicate or surpass their 2018 feat in what has become a highly anticipated tournament for domestic players across Africa.
What You Should Know
- Eric Chelle named a 35-man Super Eagles B squad on July 4, 2025, for CHAN 2025, hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in August, per NAN.
- Key players include captain Junior Nduka, Anas Yusuf, and Henry Ani, with Nigeria in Group D facing Senegal, Sudan, and Congo.
- Matches against Senegal and Sudan will be at Amman Stadium, Zanzibar, with the Congo game at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
- Players must report to Remo Stars Sports Institute on July 7 with passports and licenses, representing NPFL clubs like Enyimba and Remo Stars.
- Nigeria, 2018 CHAN runners-up, aims to leverage its domestic talent to challenge defending champions Senegal, with fans on X optimistic about the squad’s potential.
