The Confederation of African Football has approved a major adjustment to squad regulations ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a move expected to influence how national teams, including Nigeria, prepare for the tournament.
CAF will now allow nations to register up to 27 players for AFCON. However, the body will only cover expenses for 23 players, meaning federations must fund the remaining four themselves. This includes travel, accommodation and other competition-related costs.
CAF said the rule change will help coaches manage injuries, suspensions and tactical demands during what could be a tightly packed tournament schedule.
With AFCON 2025 set for December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation is expected to announce the Super Eagles’ provisional squad in the coming days.
The team’s official X handle already hinted at the list on Tuesday, writing:
“Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations preliminary squad announcement coming up.”
Reports indicate that head coach Eric Chelle has submitted a 55-man preliminary list, which will be trimmed ahead of the pre-tournament training camp. Several new faces are expected to be included when the squad is confirmed.
The Super Eagles will open camp on Monday, December 8, with friendly matches lined up before the team departs for Morocco.
South Africa have already released their own provisional squad — a 54-man list announced on Monday — adding pressure on other AFCON contenders to finalise preparations.
Nigeria will compete in Group C, alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania. The Eagles begin their campaign on December 23, 2025, against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès. Tunisia take on Uganda the same day in Rabat.
The group’s headline fixture comes on December 27, when Nigeria face Tunisia in Fès. The final round of matches will be played simultaneously on December 31, with Uganda vs Nigeria in Fès and Tunisia vs Tanzania in Rabat.
Nigeria, runners-up at the last AFCON after losing 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast, will be chasing a fourth continental crown, having previously won the tournament in 1980, 1994 and 2013.