Nigeria selects AFCON team packed with top forwards
Star strikers and past CAF player of the year recipients Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman lead the 28 player Nigeria lineup announced on Thursday for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Super Eagles begin their Group C matches on December 23 versus Tanzania, followed by Tunisia four days later and Uganda on December 30.
Teams finishing first and second in the group progress directly to the knockout rounds, along with the top four third placed sides from the six groups entering the last 16.
Nigeria and Tunisia stand as strong contenders for the leading positions, while the eastern African teams compete for third place and a chance to continue.
Osimhen, playing in Turkey, earned the best African player honour in 2023, with Lookman of Italys Atalanta taking over the award. Moroccos captain and full back Achraf Hakimi claimed it this year.
Nigeria boasts abundant attacking options, leading Ivory Coast born manager Eric Chelle to pick nine forwards. The team also includes three keepers, eight at the back and eight in midfield.
One attacker left out is Victor Boniface of Germanys Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Tolu Arokodare, newly signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers, also fails to feature.
Three players come from Premier League side Fulham, namely defender Calvin Bassey, midfielder Alex Iwobi and loanee forward Samuel Chukwueze.
Chukwueze, loaned from AC Milan with Fulham holding a buy option, netted two goals in a recent 5 4 defeat to Manchester City.
Manager Chelle has selected injured primary keeper Stanley Nwabali of South Africas Chippa United.
Nigeria has secured the AFCON title on three occasions, with their latest victory a 1 0 win over Burkina Faso in the 2013 Johannesburg final. In the previous tournament, they finished second to hosts Ivory Coast.
The team will play a friendly against Egypt in Cairo on December 16 before heading to Fes in Morocco, the venue for all their group stage games.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd/RSA), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars/TAN), Francis Uzoho (Omonia/CYP)
Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham/ENG), Semi Ajayi (Hull City/ENG), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City/ENG), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos/GRE), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes/FRA), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto/POR), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague/CZE), Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers/ENG)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham/ENG), Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas/TUR), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge/BEL), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem/BEL), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio/ITA), Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa/ITA), Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias/ISR)
Forwards: Chidera Ejuke, Akor Adams (both Sevilla/ESP), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/ITA), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham/ENG), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray/TUR), Moses Simon (Paris FC/FRA), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor/TUR), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos/GRE), Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961/CRO)