Super Eagles Coach Faces Crucial AFCON Deadline
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially set a deadline for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to submit his final squad list for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco. This development comes as the Nigerian national team prepares for their campaign to claim the continental title after finishing as runners-up in the previous edition.
Key Dates and Tournament Details
According to official sources, Eric Chelle must submit his final 23-man squad by December 11, 2025, ahead of the tournament kickoff. The three-time African champions will begin their title quest against Tanzania's Taifa Stars on December 23, followed by matches against Tunisia's Carthage Eagles on December 27, and conclude their group stage against Uganda's Cranes on December 30.
The tournament is scheduled to run from December 23, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with Nigeria placed in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Coach Chelle has already taken the initial step of submitting a 55-man provisional list to CAF, which includes several relatively unknown players who could potentially replace aging members of the squad.
Team Preparations and Training Camp
Reports indicate that Chelle has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to open training camp on December 8, allowing sufficient time to trim the initial 55-man list down to the final 23 players required for the competition. The 48-year-old Malian-born coach has been closely monitoring players since taking charge of the Super Eagles and is determined to surpass Nigeria's previous AFCON performance where they lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in the final.
The former Malian national team manager faces significant pressure to deliver results, with his job security potentially depending on Nigeria's performance in Morocco. His inclusion of fresh talent in the provisional squad suggests a strategic approach to building a competitive team capable of challenging for the title.
Player Updates and Fitness Concerns
In positive news for the Super Eagles, striker Cyriel Dessers has taken significant steps toward full recovery, rejoining his Panathinaikos teammates in training after suffering a sprain that sidelined him for eight weeks. The forward has scored two goals in four matches since joining the Greek club from Rangers FC during the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Nigerian international Paul Onuachu has sent a strong message to coach Chelle through his performances, scoring in Trabzonspor's 4-3 victory against Başakşehir in the Turkish Super Lig. The 31-year-old converted a calm penalty in the 76th minute, demonstrating his readiness for international duty.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Eric Chelle's final squad selection, with Nigerian fans hoping the Super Eagles can replicate their 2013 success and bring home the AFCON trophy from Morocco.
