AFCON 2025
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named a 24-man squad for Nigeria’s crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania with a couple of notbale players missing from the list.
Kelechi Iheanacho despite his imperious from in Turkey for Bursaspor did not get an invite. Recall the former Leicester City forward scored in the international friendly against Russia in October.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is not in the squad for the second consecutive time in the qualification series after suffering a knee injury in the Champions League match against Stuttgart in midweek.
Iheanacho’s omission is the hardest to explain. The former Leicester City forward has scored 17 league goals for Turkish side Bursaspor this season, and he found the net in Nigeria’s 3-3 friendly draw with Russia in October. Chelle still passed him over for the competitive window.
Okoye’s exclusion follows a rough spell at Udinese. He conceded twice in Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Venezia, the club’s eighth loss in nine league games, and five more in a 5-2 defeat to Roma on 31 October. His recent late arrivals to camp and off the pitch drama might have also contributed to the omission
Chelle has turned to Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo in goal.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi leads the group, with Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon retained. Chibuike Nwaiwu and Mubarak Suleiman also make the cut.
The full squad is:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Arthur Okonkwo (Charlton Athletic, England).
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Benjamin Fredricks (Brentford, England); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Abdullahi Bewene (Banik Ostrava, Czechia).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille, France); Samson Tijani (FK Podbrezova, Slovakia); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Mubarak Suleiman (Slavia Prague, Czechia).
Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, England); Akor Adams (Venezia, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Ajax, Netherlands); Moses Usor (LASK, Austria).
The Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, 13 November. They then travel to Zanzibar for the return leg on Tuesday, 17 November. Tanzania have already qualified for the finals as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda, but Nigeria need maximum points to revive their Group L campaign after a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in September.
