The countdown to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has intensified as the competition prepares to make history as the first AFCON edition scheduled across the Christmas and New Year period.
This is even as Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Wilfred Ndidi in Nigeria’s final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The squad also features Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi and Frank Onyeka.
According to a list released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday night, notably missing, however, are Kelechi Iheanacho and Maduka Okoye, who have been left out of the tournament kicking off in Morocco in 10 days.
Chelle also included defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Bright Osayi-Samuel; midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika; and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon, among others.
There are returns for Cyprus-based goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Igoh Ogbu, and forward Paul Onuachu.
However, new faces in the squad include England-based defender Ryan Alebiosu; midfielders Usman Muhammed (Israel), Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Italy), and Tochukwu Nnadi (Belgium); and Croatia-based forward Salim Fago Lawal, all receiving their first senior call-ups.
The Super Eagles will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in a friendly match at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday, 16 December, before departing Cairo for Fès, their Group C base, two days later.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, will begin their AFCON campaign against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on December 23, followed by group fixtures against Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on December 27 and Uganda’s Cranes on December 30
The tournament will open on December 21 with hosts Morocco taking on Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 19:00 GMT. The final will be played on January 18, 2026.
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Table of Contents
NIGERIA
TUNISIA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
GROUP C HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
Nigeria have been placed in Group C, where they will face Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda. Below is a comprehensive preview of the Super Eagles and the three nations they will encounter in the group stage.
NIGERIA
Fixtures:
Dec 23 vs Tanzania, Fes (1200)
Dec 27 vs Tunisia, Fes (1200)
Dec 30 vs Uganda, Fes (1700)
Qualifying Campaign: Winners of Group D
Match Results:
Benin 3–0 (home), 1–1 (away)
Rwanda 1–2 (away), 0–0 (home)
Libya 1–0 (home), 3–0 (away)
Top Scorers: Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen – 2 goals each
Captain: Wilfred Ndidi
Head Coach: Eric Chelle (Côte d’Ivoire)
CAF Ranking: 5
FIFA Ranking: 38
Previous Appearances: 20
Best Finish: Champions – 1980, 1994, 2013
Highest Goals Scored in a Match: DR Congo 4–2 (1976), Burkina Faso 4–2 (1978), Tunisia 4–2 (2000), South Africa 4–0 (2004), Mali 4–1 (2013)
Most Conceded in a Match: Egypt 6–3 (1963)
Nickname: Super Eagles
TUNISIA
Fixtures:
Dec 23 vs Uganda, Rabat (1430)
Dec 27 vs Nigeria, Fes (1200)
Dec 30 vs Tanzania, Rabat (1700)
Qualifying Campaign: Group A Runners-Up
Match Results:
Comoros 0–1 (home), 1–1 (away)
Gambia 1–0 (away), 2–1 (home)
Madagascar 1–0 (home), 3–2 (away)
Top Scorer: Ali Abdi – 2 goals
Captain: Ferjani Sassi
Head Coach: Sami Trabelsi
CAF Ranking: 6
FIFA Ranking: 40
Previous Appearances: 21
Best Finish: Champions – 2004
Highest Goals Scored in a Match: Ethiopia 4–0 (1965), Zambia 4–2 (1996), Zambia 4–1 (2006), Zimbabwe 4–2 (2017), Mauritania 4–0 (2022)
Most Conceded in a Match: Ethiopia 2–4 (1962, 1963), Nigeria 2–4 (2000)
Nickname: Carthage Eagles
TANZANIA
Fixtures:
Dec 23 vs Nigeria, Fes (1200)
Dec 27 vs Uganda, Rabat (1430)
Dec 30 vs Tunisia, Rabat (1700)
Qualifying Campaign: Group H Runners-Up
Match Results:
DR Congo 2–0 (home), 1–0 (away)
Guinea 1–0 (home), 2–1 (away)
Ethiopia 0–0 (away), 2–0 (home)
Top Scorers: Simon Msuva, Feisal Salum – 2 goals each
Captain: Mbwana Samatta
Head Coach: Miguel Gamondi (Argentina)
CAF Ranking: 27
FIFA Ranking: 112
Previous Appearances: 3
Best Finish: Never progressed beyond group stage
Highest Goals in a Match: Kenya 3–2 (2019)
Most Conceded in a Match: 3 goals (Kenya, Algeria in 2019; Morocco in 2024)
Nickname: Taifa Stars
UGANDA
Fixtures:
Dec 23 vs Tunisia, Rabat (1430)
Dec 27 vs Tanzania, Rabat (1430)
Dec 30 vs Nigeria, Fes (1700)
Qualifying Campaign: Group K Runners-Up
Match Results:
South Africa 2–0 (home), 2–2 (away)
Congo Brazzaville 2–0 (home), 1–0 (away)
South Sudan 1–0 (home), 2–1 (away)
Top Scorer: Denis Omedi – 2 goals
Captain: Khalid Aucho
Head Coach: Paul Put (Belgium)
CAF Ranking: 17
FIFA Ranking: 85
Previous Appearances: 7
Best Finish: Runners-Up – 1978
Highest Goals in a Match: Congo 3–1, Morocco 3–0 (1978)
Most Conceded in a Match: Algeria 4–0 (1968)
Nickname: Cranes
GROUP C HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
Nigeria vs Tanzania:
1980: Group A – Nigeria 3, Tanzania 1
Tunisia vs Uganda:
1962: Third Place – Tunisia 3, Uganda 0
1978: Group B – Tunisia 3, Uganda 1
Nigeria vs Tunisia:
1978: Third Place – Nigeria 2, Tunisia 0
2000: Group D – Nigeria 4, Tunisia 2
2004: Semi-Final – Nigeria 1, Tunisia 1 (Tunisia won 5–3 on pens)
2006: Quarter-Final – Nigeria 1, Tunisia 1 (Nigeria won 6–5 on pens)
2019: Third Place – Nigeria 1, Tunisia 0
2022: Last 16 – Tunisia 1, Nigeria 0
Uganda vs Nigeria:
1978: Semi-Final – Uganda 2, Nigeria 1
First Meetings:
Uganda vs Tanzania
Tanzania vs Tunisia
The Super Eagles 28-Man Squad
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders:
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England)
Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel)
Forwards:
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961, Croatia)
