Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, Francis Uzoho, and Kelechi Iheanacho were among the prominent players returning to action as Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, unveiled Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Aina sustained an injury during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier draw against South Africa in September and is projected to be out for three months.
Boniface, Uzoho, and Iheanacho have been missing from the team in recent fixtures.
The 54-man provisional AFCON squad was shared on the Super Eagles’ social media accounts on Tuesday evening, a little under three weeks before the tournament begins in Morocco.
As widely anticipated, the list featured established names such as Captain William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Stanley Nwabali, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze, and Zaidu Sanusi, among others.
A review of the squad shows six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, 12 midfielders, and 23 forwards.
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro of Inter Milan, currently on loan at Pisa, made the provisional lineup and is projected to secure a place on the final squad.
The list also included four players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL): Adekunle Adeleke, Ebenezer Harcourt, Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ekeson Okorie, and Chisom Orji.
Nigeria’s final 28-man squad will be confirmed on or before December 11. The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to run from December 21st, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles will compete in Group C against Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia, and camp will begin in Egypt on December 10 in preparation for the tournament.
Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON Provisional List
Goalkeepers
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese FC, Italy); Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC, Greece); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
Defenders
William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC 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 FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel); Peter Agba (Maccabi Haifa, Israel); Tom Dele-Bashiru (Gençlerbirligi SK, Turkey)
Forwards
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic Glasgow, Scotland); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen, Germany); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, 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 (FC Basel, Switzerland); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961, Croatia); Emmanuel Michael (Linzer Athletik SK, Austria)
What you should know
Nigeria’s 54-man provisional AFCON squad blends established stars with emerging talents, including several NPFL players.
With key returnees back in contention and camp set to open in Egypt, the team will soon be trimmed to 28 players.
The Super Eagles will face Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia in Group C.
