The head coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, has finalized his 25-player squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), including experienced players Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong.
The squad, which covers various positions, reflects a mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talents.
Musa, who last played for the Super Eagles in March 2023, and Ekong, whose last match was against Portugal in November 2022, are set to make their return to the national team at the 34th AFCON, scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast.
The final AFCON squad comprises three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards.
The team will undergo a one-week training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), before returning to Lagos on January 9 and proceeding to Ivory Coast a day later.
The squad includes the newly crowned African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, along with other key players such as Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, and Joe Aribo.
Notable players from the provisional 40-man squad who did not make the final cut include Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, and Emmanuel Dennis.
Ojo Olorunleke, the Enyimba FC goalkeeper, is the sole representative from the home-based players, as Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance and Christian Nwoke of Sporting Lagos did not make it to the final squad.
The Super Eagles, drawn in Group A, will face Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.
Their opening match will be against Equatorial Guinea, followed by clashes against Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau.
List of Invited Players:
Goalkeepers:
- Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
- Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Defenders:
- Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
- Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal)
- Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
- William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece)
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
- Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)
- Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
- Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders:
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
- Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
- Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England)
- Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
- Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey)
- Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
- Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
- Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
- Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
- Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
