Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has finally dropped and as always, it has triggered debate, suspicion, and no shortage of raised eyebrows.
Eric Chelle released the list quietly, without a press conference or even a passing explanation, leaving fans and analysts to pore through every name like detectives at a crime scene.
On paper, the squad mixes familiar pillars, new hopefuls, returning veterans, and a handful of eyebrow-lifting inclusions. In reality, it reveals a picture of Chelle’s priorities: stability at the back, controlled evolution in midfield, and a willingness to gamble in attack.
This is Soccernet.ng's full breakdown: who earned their place, who sneaked in on fortune’s wings, and why certain selections deserve applause or scrutiny.
Nigeria: Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping department is anchored, as expected, by Stanley Nwabali.
Despite recent criticisms, his quality was on full display during Nigeria’s World Cup playoff games against Gabon and DR Congo. He may play in South Africa, but for the Super Eagles, he morphs into something far more imposing. His place despite reports of being injured? Undisputed.
Amas Obasogie has travelled with Chelle’s squad for months, even if nobody really expects him to feature. He is reliable depth and a logical pick.
Then comes the first shock: Francis Uzoho.
Absent throughout Chelle’s reign and struggling for consistent form in Cyprus, Uzoho was believed to be behind Maduka Okoye in the pecking order. Yet here he is, a World Cup veteran handed a lifeline. Chelle clearly sees something the public does not.
Verdict:
- Nwabali – Deserved
- Obasogie – Deserved
- Uzoho – Lucky
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Nigeria Right-Back
If not for Ola Aina’s injury, Ryan Alebiosu would still be quietly building a career at Blackburn Rovers.
Instead, Chelle called, Alebiosu accepted, and fate cracked open an unexpected door. He will battle Bright Osayi-Samuel, Aina’s long-term understudy, for the starting berth. The Egypt friendly next week will likely decide the winner.
Verdict:
- Alebiosu – Lucky
- Osayi-Samuel – Deserved
Nigeria: Left-Back
Zaidu Sanusi and Bruno Onyemaechi have both been here before. Neither will thrill you going forward, neither will embarrass you defensively. They are solid, dependable, disciplined, and that seems enough for Chelle.
Verdict:
- Onyemaechi – Deserved
- Sanusi – Deserved
Nigeria: Centre-Back
With William Troost-Ekong retiring and Benjamin Fredrick injured, Chelle still managed to assemble a solid, controversy-free centre-back group.
Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi are the likely starters, backed by Chidozie Awaziem and Igoh Ogbu, arguably Nigeria’s most consistent European-based defender over the past two seasons.
It is a no-drama set of choices. Just footballers in form, selected on merit.
Verdict:
- Bassey – Deserved
- Ajayi – Deserved
- Ogbu – Deserved
- Awaziem – Deserved
Nigeria: Midfield
This is where Chelle’s intentions become clearest.
He retained the core from last year’s AFCON final run: Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, and Wilfred Ndidi. Add the consistent Raphael Onyedika, the growing Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and workhorse talent Tochukwu Nnadi, and you get a midfield built on familiarity and rhythm.
Then come the newcomers.
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro is a sensational inclusion; not because he is unworthy, but because he is fearless and ready. His performances in Serie A have been mature beyond his years. He feels like a long-term asset, someone who brings the dynamism Chelle has craved.
Usman Mohammed, however, has divided opinion. A 31-year-old late bloomer from Israel’s top tier is not the profile anyone expected. Yet the coach clearly wants a creative spark, a Sunday Mba-type bolt from the blue.
Mohammed has hunger, motivation, and nothing to lose. Those players can become tournament legends, or disappear without trace.
Verdict:
- Iwobi – Deserved
- Onyeka – Deserved
- Ndidi – Deserved
- Onyedika – Deserved
- Nnadi – Deserved
- Dele-Bashiru – Deserved
- Akinsanmiro – Deserved
- Usman Mohammed – Lucky
Nigeria: Wingers
Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Moses Simon return as the trio expected to lead Nigeria’s attacking punch.
They were excellent at the previous AFCON and know they are running out of time to lift this trophy.
Chidera Ejuke is the risk. Talented, unpredictable, capable of brilliance or wastefulness in the span of a minute, Ejuke has not impressed at Sevilla. But he did score a crucial goal against Gabon in the playoffs, and Chelle appears to value that. The winger's immediate challenge is to now turn his dribbling flair into something measurable.
Verdict:
- Lookman – Deserved
- Chukwueze – Deserved
- Simon – Deserved
- Ejuke – Lucky
Nigeria: Strikers
Victor Osimhen’s name needs no analysis. Neither does Paul Onuachu’s resurgence at Trabzonspor, which forced Chelle’s hand after months of exclusion.
Akor Adams and Cyriel Dessers earned their places through reputation and glimpses of form, even if their seasons have been disrupted.
But the selection of Salim Fago Lawal is the biggest talking point. His numbers in Croatia are modest, his impact inconsistent, and his selection over Christantus Uche, who starred in La Liga last season, will attract scrutiny.
If Chelle’s gamble works, he will be hailed as bold. If it backfires, he will be hammered as reckless.
Verdict:
- Osimhen – Deserved
- Adams – Deserved
- Onuachu – Deserved
- Dessers – Deserved
- Lawal – Lucky
FULL LIST: Super Eagles AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders: 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); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel)
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); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961 (Croatia)
