Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is expected to unveil his final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations today (Thursday), but the Franco-Malian coach faces major selection dilemmas as several key players battle injuries ahead of the tournament.
The 2025 AFCON will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Chelle submitted a 54-man provisional squad last Tuesday, which must now be reduced to a maximum of 28 players before CAF’s deadline.
Among the biggest doubts is goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, one of Nigeria’s standout performers at the last edition in Ivory Coast, where the Super Eagles finished runners-up.
Nwabali has been out injured since the last international break, dealing with both ankle and hand issues and missing Chippa United’s last three matches.
Chippa United coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi expressed pessimism about the 29-year-old’s chances.
“I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury. I don’t think he will make it,” he said, adding that Nwabali remains hopeful of a quick recovery. “But the reality is that, for now, he is still injured.”
Vilakazi also revealed that the goalkeeper requires surgery on his hand, which he had been managing for some time before aggravating the injury in Morocco.
Since breaking into the Nigeria squad at the last AFCON, Nwabali has firmly established himself as first choice, earning 27 caps. With his recovery uncertain, Chelle will likely choose three goalkeepers from Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, Amas Obasogie and Ebenezer Harcourt.
However, Nwabali may still make the final squad if Chelle decides to take a calculated gamble on his fitness.
Defensive concerns extend further, with 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick also sidelined with a knee injury. Fredrick picked up the injury after the last international break and has quickly become an important figure in Chelle’s setup since debuting against Jamaica on May 31, 2025. He has started six straight matches and looked poised to fill the void left by retired captain William Troost-Ekong.
Ola Aina remains doubtful as well, still nursing a hamstring injury sustained in September. Though he has returned to light training, Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has ruled him out until January.
Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu is also unavailable due to an ankle injury, while Zaidu Sanusi missed FC Porto’s last match, though no explanation was provided.
Other defensive options still available to Chelle include Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Chidozie Awaziem, Igoh Ogbu, Ryan Alebiosu and Adekunle Adeleke.
The midfield department appears injury-free, while in attack, Kelechi Iheanacho is the main concern as he has only just returned from injury at Celtic.
Though Chelle could potentially drop him, the same flexibility does not exist in defence, where injuries have made selection far more complicated.
Nigeria are placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda. Only Nigeria and Tunisia have yet to announce final squads.
The Super Eagles will camp in Egypt, with an unofficial friendly against the Pharaohs scheduled for December 16.
Nigeria begin their AFCON campaign on December 23 against Tanzania in Fès. Tunisia face Uganda the same day in Rabat. The group’s biggest match will take place on December 27 when Nigeria meet Tunisia.
The final round of group matches will be played on December 31, with Nigeria taking on Uganda in Fès and Tunisia facing Tanzania in Rabat.
Nigeria, runners-up at the last AFCON, are chasing a fourth continental crown, having won previously in 1980, 1994 and 2013.