Super Eagles AFCON squad sees key forwards omitted as Chelle prioritises form and fitness ahead of the 2025 tournament in Morocco

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named his final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with several high-profile forwards conspicuously absent.

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The omissions reflect a combination of disrupted club transitions, limited playing time, and injury setbacks.

Christantus Uche, recently transferred from Getafe to Crystal Palace, was excluded after making just six league appearances for a total of 75 minutes.

His stalled Premier League transition and negligible attacking output, including no goals and only one missed big chance, contributed to Chelle’s decision.

Tolu Arokodare’s £23.4m move to Wolverhampton Wanderers failed to solidify his national team credentials.

Despite winning the Ebony Shoe in Belgium, Arokodare has started only three league matches this season, recording a single goal and limited influence across 352 minutes on the pitch.

Sadiq Umar, returning to Real Sociedad after a loan at Valencia, has similarly fallen out of favour.

His five league appearances and 159 minutes this season, combined with zero goals and minimal touches per match, made him a peripheral figure at both club and international level.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s absence follows a prolonged decline due to injuries and interrupted club moves.

Despite scoring the decisive penalty in Nigeria’s last AFCON semi-final shoot-out, Iheanacho’s lack of match fitness at Celtic rendered him unsuitable for Chelle’s final squad.

Victor Boniface, on loan at Werder Bremen, failed to score across 11 league appearances despite creating opportunities and contributing two assists.

Combined with a knee contusion and a record of no goals in 13 international outings, the forward was deemed a high-risk selection.

Junior Nduka, formerly a standout domestic international, missed out due to a move from Remo Stars to Erbil in Iraq.

Limited visibility and reduced scouting exposure from a lower-profile league ended his AFCON prospects despite a strong domestic and B-team record.

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Chelle’s selections emphasise current form, fitness, and consistent club performance, signalling a pragmatic approach as Nigeria targets success in Morocco.