AFCON 2025:- Nigeria to release provisional list December 3 as CAF deadline looms
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is set to release a 28-man provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with the tournament now less than 20 days away.
Chelle, who reportedly submitted the list to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in November, has shifted full focus to Nigeria’s AFCON campaign after the team failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to ESPN.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has directed all participating nations to submit their final 23-man squads on or before December 11.
Consequently, the NFF is expected to publish Chelle’s 28-man preliminary list by Wednesday, December 3.
Chelle met with NFF executives behind closed doors on Monday afternoon, with discussions centred on how best to begin restructuring the national team following Nigeria’s second consecutive World Cup qualification failure.
NFF officials, still disappointed by the Super Eagles’ inability to defeat DR Congo in the November 16 playoff final, reiterated their confidence in Chelle’s technical capacity.
Despite Nigeria’s star-studded roster, the team fell short of securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
A top NFF source expressed strong belief in the Franco-Malian coach’s ability to build a more cohesive and competitive squad ahead of the continental showpiece.
Chelle, appointed in January 2025 with the mandate to lead Nigeria to the World Cup, recorded four wins and two draws during the qualifiers.
He also secured his first silverware with the Super Eagles, guiding the team to a penalty shootout victory over Jamaica to win the 2025 Unity Cup.
Nigeria will now look to Morocco 2025 as a chance to restore pride and regain continental competitiveness under their new manager.
