Nigeria’s final Super Eagles 28-man AFCON squad dropped on CAF’s deadline night, and honestly, it came with drama, Footynaija.com reports.
After weeks of build up, tension, endless speculation and social media frenzies, Eric Chelle’s list only went public just before the Confederation of African Football’s cutoff.
Officially, the hold-up came down to last-minute medical checks and fitness green lights. Chelle and his team were waiting on word from the doctors before announcing the final squad. Some big names hadn’t been cleared yet, so the coaches had to play the waiting game right up to deadline day.
Related Post
But away from the official line, the wider football community told a more complicated story. Earlier reports pointed to pressure from higher up the ladder, with claims that several influential figures were pushing for their preferred players.
The behind-the-scenes lobbying contributed to the hesitation around the release, and they became a major part of the conversation as hours passed and the squad remained unpublished.
As you would expect, Nigerians, already restless from the long wait, turned the extended silence into online debate about how much control Chelle truly had over this selection.
Shocks in Eric Chelle’s final AFCON squad
When the list finally dropped, one of the biggest shocks was the absence of Maduka Okoye. The Udinese goalkeeper had worked his way back into the starting lineup, making eight Serie A appearances and keeping two clean sheets after returning from suspension.
No doubt, the 26-year-old’s club form had picked up. Many felt he had done enough to reclaim his place as Nigeria’s safest pair of hands, especially with concerns around Stanley Nwabali, who was nursing an injury scare just days before the squad dropped.
Not to mention that Okoye had seen more recent top-flight action than the rest of the goalkeepers. A recall seemed likely, but Eric Chelle went with Francis Uzoho and Amos Obasogie, with the Chippa United goalkeeper retaining his spot-despite questions of true match fitness.
Others on the list each bring something to the table, but leaving out the German-born shot-stopper who, until this selection, remained the obvious alternative to Nwabali, is a decision that raises a lot of questions. Some unconfirmed reports claim he may have requested to be left out to concentrate on his club duties, though no official word has backed that up.
Felix Agu’s situation also adds another to twist the drama. The Werder Bremen full-back has been on the mend after surgery and hasn’t seen real game time in months.
His omission was expected on medical grounds, but it still raised eyebrows, especially after Victor Boniface posted a social media clip that all but confirmed his friend was in.
Now, Boniface may not be the go-to source for squad news, but the post leaves one wondering if there was a late twist, maybe from the influence of the “Azza-men,” the now-popular social media term for powerful figures allegedly pulling strings behind the scenes in the NFF, often for reasons far removed from football.
His omission was expected on medical grounds, but it is worth mentioning, given that Victor Boniface had earlier posted a social media video that many interpreted as a sign of Agu’s AFCON hopes ending.
There’s also Christantus Uche, the 22‑year‑old attacking midfielder whose youth and potential have made him one of the most exciting Nigerian prospects in Europe.
Uche had been expected to feature in the AFCON 2025 squad, with many seeing him as a player who could inject energy, pace, and creativity into Nigeria’s attack. His performances at club level with Crystal Palace, even amid limited minutes, had shown flashes of brilliance that promised a bright future for both club and country.
Yet, in a dramatic twist on the night the final squad was announced, Uche produced a masterclass for Crystal Palace, scoring his first-ever goal for the club and assisting another to help his team to a 3‑0 away victory over Shelbourne in the Europa Conference League. Eric Chelle, however, left him out of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad, leaving fans stunned.
Then, there’s Tolu Arokodare. The Wolves striker, who had rotated through the attack in World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, showed glimpses of his potential and didn’t look out of place. For many, leaving him out was a surprising call.
From a tactical point of view, the Super Eagles coach may have chosen attackers with different profiles for this AFCON run, but Arokodare’s earlier involvement meant supporters were always going to question why he missed out.
All of this played out against a backdrop of late-night whispers about off-field pressure. Whether it was purely tactical or politics crept in, we’re left asking questions. And while clearer answers may emerge in the coming days, for now, the doubts remain.
Comments 1