Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has released Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, Francis Uzoho, and Kelechi Iheanacho among the notable returnees.
Aina, who picked up an injury during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa in September, remains sidelined and is expected to be out for three months. Boniface, Uzoho, and Iheanacho also make their way back after missing recent matches.
The 54-man provisional list was published on the Super Eagles’ official social media pages on Tuesday evening, just under three weeks before the tournament kicks off in Morocco.
As expected, regulars such as captain William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Stanley Nwabali, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, and Zaidu Sanusi made the list.
However, fast-rising defender Benjamin Fredrick will miss the tournament due to a knee injury.
The squad breakdown includes six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, 12 midfielders, and 23 forwards. Inter Milan midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro—currently on loan at Pisa—also earned a call-up and is tipped to make the final squad.
Five players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) were included: Adekunle Adeleke, Ebenezer Harcourt, Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ekeson Okorie, and Chisom Orji.
Nigeria’s final 28-man squad will be announced on or before December 11. The 2025 AFCON runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles will face Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia in Group C and are scheduled to open camp in Egypt on December 10.
Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON Provisional Squad
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 Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Semi 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 (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 NN, 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)
