By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has submitted a 55-man provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, marking his first major step in Nigeria’s quest for redemption after missing out on the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Playoff.
Following the disappointment of failing to qualify for the global playoffs, Chelle has fully turned his attention to AFCON 2025, where Nigeria will aim to improve on their runner-up finish to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the last edition.
According to exclusive information obtained by Owngoal, the Super Eagles will open their pre-tournament training camp on December 8 in Morocco. Ahead of that date, Chelle is expected to reduce the provisional list to at least 30 players, from which the final tournament squad will be selected.
Team insiders reveal that the extensive list includes a blend of established internationals and a fresh group of emerging talents who have been closely monitored in recent months. Several of these lesser-known prospects are believed to be viewed by Chelle as potential long-term pillars of the national team.
Despite introducing new faces, Chelle has retained the core group that has underpinned the squad since he took charge, ensuring both continuity and healthy competition in key positions.
With Nigeria seeking a return to the AFCON final and determined to take the final step toward lifting the trophy, Chelle’s squad build-up reflects a calculated balance of experience, reinforcements, and future planning.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
