Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, is on the verge of announcing a strong 28-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco.
Deadlines and Deliberations for Morocco 2025
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to make the list public on or before Wednesday, December 3rd. This comes after Chelle, who previously managed Mali, reportedly submitted an extensive 55-man roster to the federation in November. This initial list is said to have included 10 relatively unknown players, indicating the coach's intent to scout fresh talent.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations, all participating nations must finalize and submit their official 23-man squad list by December 11. The provisional 28-man list serves as the crucial pool from which the final team will be selected.
NFF Backs Chelle After World Cup Disappointment
The leadership of the NFF and Coach Chelle held a closed-door meeting recently to strategize. A primary focus was rebuilding the national team following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles were eliminated after losing a playoff final to the Democratic Republic of Congo on November 16.
An NFF source expressed confidence in Chelle's ability to construct a competitive team for AFCON. "He is very sound, very knowledgeable and has a clear vision for the team," the source stated. "The Nigeria Football Federation will help him to rebuild the team and also convince any player he wants in the squad, plying their trade in Europe."
Chelle, appointed in January 2025 with the initial goal of World Cup qualification, has already secured silverware with the Super Eagles. He led the team to victory in the 2025 Unity Cup, defeating Jamaica 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
Media Confidence and Key Challenges Ahead
Prominent Nigerian sports journalist, Olatunde Odimayo, has voiced strong support for the Franco-Malian tactician. Odimayo believes Chelle is "destined for greatness" as Super Eagles coach and has shown adeptness in managing the squad's star players.
He advised the NFF to allow Chelle full autonomy in player selection to ensure success. "If Eric Chelle is supported fully, Nigeria will win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco," Odimayo asserted.
However, the path to glory will be challenging. Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has already identified defending champions Ivory Coast among the nations that could pose a significant threat to Nigeria's title ambitions in Morocco.
