With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) fast approaching, Nigerian football fans are eagerly awaiting head coach Eric Chelle's final squad selection. The Super Eagles boss recently unveiled a formidable 54-man provisional list, but the real challenge begins now as he must whittle it down to the final 28 players mandated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Final Cut: Tough Decisions for Coach Chelle
The tournament is scheduled to kick off on December 21 in Morocco, where Nigeria will compete in Group C against Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. While Chelle is known for his loyalty to trusted players, the need to select a competitive squad for Nigeria's quest for a fourth AFCON title means some big names from the preliminary list will inevitably be left behind. Several senior internationals are reportedly on the chopping block despite their inclusion in the initial 54.
Senior Players Facing the Axe
Here is a closer look at the five established Super Eagles players who are most at risk of being omitted from the final roster for the continental showpiece.
Paul Onuachu: The Trabzonspor striker's situation is a curious one. Despite being in red-hot form in Turkey, where he leads the league's scoring chart with 11 goals this season, Onuachu has consistently been overlooked by Chelle. The coach's apparent preference for Tolu Arokodare, a player with a similar style but inferior output, suggests the prolific forward's chances of making the trip to Morocco are slim.
Francis Uzoho: The experienced goalkeeper, who has 35 caps for Nigeria, finds himself in a precarious position. A lack of regular playing time at his club, Omonia, where he is a backup, has severely weakened his case. With Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye firmly established as the top two choices, Uzoho is unlikely to secure the third goalkeeper slot.
Felix Agu: The Werder Bremen defender's inclusion in the provisional squad raised eyebrows due to his current injury status. Agu has been sidelined since October and is not expected back until 2026. Barring a miraculous recovery, his fitness concerns all but guarantee he will not be part of the final 28-man squad.
Taiwo Awoniyi: The Nottingham Forest striker's season has been marred by injuries and a severe lack of match rhythm. With only four appearances this campaign and none lasting a full 90 minutes, Awoniyi's sharpness is in major doubt. In a high-stakes tournament like AFCON, Chelle is unlikely to gamble on a forward who is not fully fit or playing regularly.
Victor Boniface: The talented 23-year-old forward is also struggling for form and fitness at the club level. While he has registered three assists this season, he is yet to find the back of the net. With several other Nigerian attackers performing better, Boniface risks being the odd man out when the final list is announced.
The Road to Morocco
Coach Eric Chelle has previously explained that he included some injured players in the massive provisional squad after receiving personal assurances regarding their recovery timelines. However, with the tournament just weeks away, hard decisions based on current form and fitness are paramount. As the Super Eagles aim to conquer Africa once again, all eyes will be on the manager's final selection, which will reveal the core group tasked with bringing the trophy back to Nigeria.
