Osimhen, Lookman Headline Nigeria’s 28-Man Squad for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Posted : 12 December 2025

Nigeria has unveiled its 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman leading the roster.

The Super Eagles will kick off their Group C campaign on December 23 against Tanzania, before facing Tunisia four days later and concluding the group stage against Uganda on December 30.

Group winners and runners-up automatically progress to the knockout stage, while the four best third-placed teams across the six groups will also advance.

Nigeria and Tunisia are widely expected to claim the top two spots, leaving the East African sides to compete for potential third-place qualification.

Victor Osimhen, currently playing in Turkey, was named African Player of the Year in 2023, with Ademola Lookman of Atalanta taking the honor the following year. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi claimed the award in the latest edition.

Nigeria’s squad selection reflects its wealth of attacking talent, with coach Eric Chelle choosing nine forwards alongside three goalkeepers, eight defenders, and eight midfielders.

Notable absences include Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen and recent Wolverhampton signing Tolu Arokodare.

Premier League club Fulham provides three players: centre-back Calvin Bassey, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and on-loan forward Samuel Chukwueze, who recently scored twice in a 5-4 defeat to Manchester City. Injured first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United has also been included in the squad.

Nigeria enters the tournament with a rich AFCON history, having won the title three times, most recently in 2013 after a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso. They were runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast in the previous edition.

Ahead of the tournament, the Super Eagles will face Egypt in a warm-up friendly in Cairo on December 16, before relocating to Fes for all their first-round matches.

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)

Osimhen, Lookman Headline Nigeria’s 28-Man Squad for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

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