Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has unveiled an extensive 54-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting off a wave of reactions from Nigerian football enthusiasts. The list, notably packed with attacking talent, was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday, December 1, following a meeting with the coach in Abuja.
A Squad Heavy on Firepower
The most striking feature of the preliminary roster is the sheer number of forwards included. Coach Chelle has called up a total of 23 strikers, leading to the popular social media quip "Forwards na water" among fans. The attacking contingent is headlined by former African Footballers of the Year, Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray and Ademola Lookman from Atalanta.
In a move to cover all bases, Chelle has also recalled several players who have been out of the national team spotlight. This includes Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad), and Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic Glasgow). The list further accounts for players recovering from injuries, such as Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest) and Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen), while also offering opportunities to domestic league talents Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes) and Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United).
The provisional squad is rounded out by six goalkeepers, thirteen defenders, and twelve midfielders. The final squad must be trimmed to 28 players before the submission deadline set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
High Stakes for Chelle and the Super Eagles
This squad announcement comes with significant pressure for the former Mali coach. Following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the NFF has reportedly mandated that Chelle must secure a successful campaign at AFCON 2025 to retain his position. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The three-time African champions will be looking to improve on their runner-up finish at the last edition, where they lost to hosts Ivory Coast in the final. For AFCON 2025, the Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Nigerian Fans React with Humour and Analysis
The release of the massive provisional list, particularly the overload of forwards, has sparked lively debates and humorous reactions across social media platforms.
One fan, Mc Youngest Comedian Chibueze, captured the general sentiment with his comment: "Forwards na water ??,, Who will play and who will sit on the bench?" Another user, Kenneth Maxwellz, simply exclaimed, "23 forward?? Na war???"
Beyond the jokes, some fans offered tactical analysis. A user named Premier Soccer Mzansi suggested, "Nigeria needs a creative no.10 that will compliment Ndidi and Iwobi in the middle and play just behind Osimhen... If they can't find the proper no.10 play Lookman as no.10 and put Ejuke on the left wing."
Others saw the inclusive list as a strategic move. Dirim-TooReal noted, "Eric Chelle called up almost every Nigerian striker for AFCON… the man don learn! ?."
As the countdown to the tournament continues, all eyes will be on how Coach Chelle manages this large pool of talent and trims his squad down to the final 28, with the ultimate goal of bringing home Nigeria's fourth AFCON trophy.
