In a period when Nigerian football is undergoing scrutiny, transition and the weight of unfulfilled expectations, the recently released Super Eagles’ 54-man provisional squad for AFCON 2025 has ignited nationwide debate. More than a routine announcement, it has become a mirror reflecting the state of the country’s football culture — its hopes, flaws and endless passion, writes TUNDE LIADI.
When Eric Chelle unveiled a 54-man provisional squad for Super Eagles for the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, few were surprised.
What stunned everyone was the composition — a mixture of long-absent veterans, fringe players, youth gambles and hopefuls racing against time. With the final squad submission a few days away, the list has already done more to stir debate than to build expectation. What was intended perhaps as a safety-first approach now risks being seen as a scattergun, one that may dilute cohesion more than enhance competition.
Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising recall is that of Francis Uzoho. Once a promising number-one goalkeeper for Nigeria, he has been absent from the setup since early 2024 after a string of poor club performances and high-profile errors. He’s been supplanted — at least in public perception — by younger, more reliable options like Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye and Amas Obasogie.
Yet Chelle’s inclusion of Uzoho points to a lingering faith in experience — or perhaps a hedging strategy keeping all veteran doors open.
At the same time, Chelle has sprinkled the roster with youthful gambles that raise eyebrows. Among them:
Emmanuel Michael, a 19-year-old left-back whose senior experience amounts to just a handful of appearances at his Austrian club, Linz SK. There had been no public buzz about him being close to a senior call-up; his selection suggests Chelle might be casting a net far wider than many anticipated.
Taiwo Awoniyi, whose inclusion is surprising not due to ability — but fitness. The former Liverpool forward hasn’t played for his club since early November due to a muscle injury and remains without a goal in the EPL this season.
Tom Dele-Bashiru — once a bright teenager at the U20 World Cup — now plying his trade in Turkey, with a modest season behind him. His recall underscores that Chelle might be looking beyond the usual names in midfield.
These inclusions provoke legitimate questions: Is the coach prioritizing a diversity of options at the expense of clarity? Or is he simply spreading too wide a net in hopes of unearthing breakthrough talent?
Not everyone is convinced by the logic.
A contributor who preferred to remain anonymous did not mince words: “I don’t know what is wrong with the NFF or is it Eric Chelle I am going to blame for this gaffe. Why didn’t they release the list on time? … releasing the list on time would whet the fans appetite … by now we would be preparing the home-based to see a few of them that can break into the team.”
The sense of disapproval resonates — the delayed, last-minute release has deprived local fans of early excitement and denied home-based players a proper window of expectation.
At the same time, there is optimism. 22-year-old hopeful Saliu Fago Lawal described the call-up as “a dream come true … a big privilege,” promising he will fight for a place in the final list. Veteran backup keeper Amas Obasogie echoed the sentiment: “I am very happy and excited … I do not take the opportunity for granted … I will make my fans proud.”
From the supporters’ side, voices are mixed.
Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje cautioned against treating AFCON as a distraction: “The AFCON is a distraction to us because it has made us forget about our inability to qualify for the World Cup. We need to fix our house.”
He further argued the coach must resist external interference in selection — a sentiment echoed by former defender Ifeanyi Udeze, who stressed that Chelle’s technical crew must be allowed to pick the final 28 men:
“The NFF should allow Chelle and his technical crew to do their job so as to know whom to hold responsible if the team fails or does well in Morocco.”
Similarly, veteran coach Duke Udi questioned the logic of inviting 54 players just weeks before the tournament — calling the move “a shameful script” and arguing that a smaller, more coherent squad makes more sense
In the same vein, respected journalist Austin Okon Akpan asked pointedly: “What are we doing with a preliminary list? With everything our football has been through … are we joking? Are we treating national team football like Principal Cup?”
He lamented the absence of clear planning from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) — recalling that despite good performances at the previous AFCON, the team failed to qualify for the World Cup just over a year later.
On a more hopeful note, former midfielder Nosa Igiebor urged the squad to harness collective spirit and ambition:
“I expect them to bring back that trophy. We won it in 2013 and lost in the final of the last edition … I hope by the grace of God they can do it this term.”
And the NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi reminded the Technical Department of its duty: ensure the best players make the final cut — and do so on time to avoid fines and logistical complications.
Meanwhile, pundit and former player Olufemi Ebenezer Ajilore emphasized the scale of the task ahead: “The pressure and expectations ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations is at its feverish peak like it has never been witnessed before. … The players must come all out … arrive camp early and ensure proper preparation is in place … with the hope of giving their best in Morocco.”
Putting together a provisional list of 54 players is not inherently problematic. National teams often call broad squads to give coaches flexibility in case of injuries, loss of form, or last-minute withdrawals. But in the case of Nigeria, the timing, leaks, and the nearly arbitrary inclusion of injured or inactive players raise concerns — not least that this may be more about politics, appeasement, or optics than about building a competitive squad.
The recall of long-absent veterans like Uzoho — despite recent poor form — signals either hope for experienced continuity, or a fall-back in the absence of better alternatives.
The inclusion of young, untested players might pay dividends in the future — especially if older members struggle — but it also means counting on maturity under pressure.
Leaving injured players on the list, or those unlikely to be ready by tournament time, suggests a lack of medical certainty or perhaps procedural hurriedness.
And with a final cut down to 28 looming, there’s a risk the final list will lack cohesion: players may not have time to gel, or some may arrive to camp underprepared.
More broadly, the episode underscores a recurring problem in Nigerian football: planning often takes a back seat to reaction. As the anonymous contributors lamented, “fire-brigade approach” — delayed releases, last-minute decisions, heavy-handed selections — seems to have become the norm.
But there is still time — for scrutiny, for pushback, and for clarity. If Chelle and the NFF use these remaining days wisely, they could transform what many fear is chaos into a measured final squad.
The 54-man provisional squad for AFCON 2025 certainly casts a wide net — but so far, it has trapped more doubt than optimism. Whether this ends up as a smart, brave selection or a confused, ill-prepared gamble will depend on what happens between now and the final cut. For now, Nigerian fans have more questions than cheers — and they deserve answers.
