Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has named a 55-man provisional squad. This team will prepare for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Captain William Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Stanley Nwabali headline the list.
This announcement officially kicks off Nigeria’s final preparations. The Super Eagles aim to reclaim the continental title. They last won this trophy in 2013.
Chelle’s provisional list features many familiar faces. These players come from Europe’s top leagues. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is included. Defenders Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, and Semi Ajayi also made the cut. Midfielders Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, and Raphael Onyedika are on the squad. Forwards like Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Moses, and Chidera Ejuke are also included.
Coach Chelle also showed strong faith in domestic talent. He included several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players. Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ebenezer Harcourt, Ekeson Okorie, Chisom Orji, and Adekunle Adeleke are among them.
Officials confirm a final list of 28 players will be selected. This announcement is expected in the coming days.
The Super Eagles will open their training camp in Egypt. This starts on Wednesday, December 10. They will play warm-up matches there. Afterwards, the team will head to Morocco for the main event. The tournament kicks off on Sunday, December 21.
The Full Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers:
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania)
- Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
- Adebayo Adeleye (Volos, Greece)
- Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus)
- Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
Defenders:
- William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)
- Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England)
- Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England)
- Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England)
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece)
- Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France)
- Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal)
- Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
- Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany)
- Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England)
- Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors)
Midfielders:
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England)
- Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England)
- Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA)
- Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey)
- Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
- Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England)
- Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy)
- Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa, Italy)
- Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel)
- Peter Agba (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)
- Tom Dele-Bashiru (Gençlerbirligi, Turkey)
Forwards:
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy)
- Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England)
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey)
- Simon Moses (Paris FC, France)
- Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain)
- Tolu Arokodare (Wolves, England)
- Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain)
- Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)
- Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic, Scotland)
- Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
- Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen, Germany)
- Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor, Turkey)
- Terem Moffi (Nice, France)
- Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
- Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece)
- Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes)
- Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic)
- Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United)
- Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves)
- Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (OH Leuven, Belgium)
- Philip Otele (Basel, Switzerland)
- Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961, Croatia)
- Emmanuel Michael (Linzer ASK, Austria)
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