Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has listed captain William Troost-Ekong, star forward Victor Osimhen, and others in his provisional list of 54 players for the upcoming 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, www.aclsports.com reports.
Chelle has Ekong leading the backline with other regulars like Olaoluwa Aina (who has not played since September), Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Among the new faces in the provisional squad are Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England), who recently got his clearance to play for the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Fredrick, who has been a revelation in the last couple of months, was rightfully omitted from the squad due to injury, while Ibrahim Olawoyin, who last featured for Nigeria last year, also misses out upon return to match fitness at club level.
In the forwards section, the Franco-Malian has the likes of Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface, and Cyriel Dessers, while there is also space for Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic) and former U20 striker Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961, Croatia).
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is joined by Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie, and former Super Eagles number one Francis Uzoho as some of the shot-stoppers in the shortlist.
From the home scene, Chelle left out the entire CHAN squad by going ahead to list Abdulrasheed Dabai (Niger Tornadoes), Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United), Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves), and former invitee Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors).
Chelle is expected to name a final list of 28 players from the provisional list in a matter of days. The Super Eagles are scheduled to arrive at a training camp in Egypt on Wednesday, 10th December. The team is also expected to play a couple of friendly matches before the tournament begins on Sunday, 21st December.
Nigeria, losing finalists at the last tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, is in Group C of the competition alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.
54 PLAYERS IN PROVISIONAL LIST OF NIGERIA FOR 35TH AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS MOROCCO 2025
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)
