Ten Emerging Prospects: Inside Super Eagles’ Surprise AFCON Call-Ups

Ten Emerging Prospects: Inside Super Eagles’ Surprise AFCON Call-Ups

By BSN Sports 

The Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has submitted a 55-man provisional list for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to the Nigeria Football Federation with ten relatively unknown players earning surprise call-ups, according to a report by OwnGoalNigeria.

Head coach Eric Chelle is expected in Nigeria this week for meetings with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before trimming the squad to approximately 30 players. The reduced list will form the core of the team that will commence a pre-tournament training camp on December 8 in Morocco.

The provisional squad features several newcomers who have yet to make an appearance for the senior national team. Among the ten emerging players identified by team sources are:

Anthony Dennis (Göztepe SK, Turkey)

David Moses (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Chibuike Nwaiwu (Wolfsberger FC, Austria)

Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzeň, Czech Republic)

Dapo Afolayan (St. Pauli, Germany)

Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England)

Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium)

Onuche Ogbelu (Espérance, Tunisia)

Tebo Franklin (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)

Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos, Nigeria)

The inclusion of this group reflects Chelle’s growing emphasis on expanding Nigeria’s talent pool and building long-term depth within the squad.

Chelle, whose contract renewal is contingent on the team reaching the AFCON final, faces added pressure after Nigeria failed to qualify for two consecutive major tournaments a setback last seen in 1994. A successful AFCON run would secure him a new two-year deal as the federation shifts focus toward the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.