New Faces, Familiar Core: Inside Chelle’s 55-Man AFCON Provisional Squad

New Faces, Familiar Core: Inside Chelle’s 55-Man AFCON Provisional Squad

By Admin 

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has submitted a 55-man provisional list ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, marking the first major step in Nigeria’s preparations for the continental tournament.

Still recovering from the disappointment of missing out on a spot in the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff for the 2026 World Cup, Chelle has turned his full attention to the AFCON, where Nigeria will be seeking redemption after finishing runners-up at the last edition in Côte d’Ivoire.

According to information obtained exclusively by Owngoal, the national team’s training camp is scheduled to open on December 8 in Morocco. Before then, Chelle is expected to prune the provisional roster down to at least 30 players, from which the final tournament squad will be selected.

Sources familiar with the provisional list reveal that it includes several relatively unknown players who have been monitored by the coaching crew over recent months. Chelle reportedly views some of these emerging talents as long-term prospects for the national team.

Despite the inclusion of new faces, the coach has retained the core group of players he has relied on since assuming leadership of the Super Eagles. His objective heading into the Morocco 2025 AFCON is clear: to take Nigeria one step further than their last outing, where they narrowly missed out on the title after losing to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final.