There is a huge possibility that Stanley Nwabali will not be the first choice goalkeeper of the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Since becoming the first choice goalkeeper at the last AFCON two years ago, the Chippa United shot stopper has kept his spot despite making howlers in some games.

However all of that could change at the AFCON with Eric Chelle picking as many as six goalkeepers in his 54 man provisional list for the tournament. Only three goalkeepers will make the final list of 28 players when it become public on Monday.

” There is a huge chance that we will have a change in who will be in goal goal for the tournament. We haven’t had much chance to shake things up due to how dicey the games have been lately. But with the time and opportunity we have before the tournament, all of that could change”, a team source revealed.

” Nwabali is still the first choice but for how long I don’t know because we have had some conversations about his position, and also it’s very difficult to ignore the kind of season that Maduka Okoye is having in Italy with Udinese. Francis Uzoho hasn’t done badly too in the Europa League”, he concluded.

The blistering form of Samuel Chukwueze at English Premier League side Fulham has made coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle to change his position in his team in the build up to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) , OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chukwueze has two goals and three assists in six games for Fulham this reason following his loan move from Italian Serie A side AC Milan, where he failed to make any sustained impact in the first team.

His form has taken a huge turnaround since his move to Fulham largely due to a new role he is now assigned to at the club by coach Marco Silva , who plays him mainly on the left rather than on the right.

” I think we ( Super Eagles technical crew) can see that he isn’t properly at home playing as an inverted winger, so at the AFCON he will be deployed in the same role like he plays at Fulham on the left”, a staff told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” We had that discussion with Chelle who also noticed and acknowledged that to get the best out of Chukwueze we must emulate how he is operating at his club. It’s the same for every player”, he stated.

The decision of Eric Chelle to pick LASK defender Emmanuel Michael in Super Eagles provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations came as a surprise to a lot of people, when it was made public yesterday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Michael who completed a full time move to the Austrian side in the summer after one year on loan from Simoiben FC was the star of the Nigeria U17 team of Nduka Ugbade three years ago, when they won the WAFU B tournament.

In that tournament, he picked up three man of match awards in five games excelling from his left back role with three well taken free kick goals plus an assist in the final.

This season he has made five appearances for the team in the Austrian top division, but more importantly is how he has looked comfortable when he plays despite it being his first season as a professional footballer.

Chelle was taken aback by his technical level when watching him following a recommendation from one of backroom staff. The coach immediately got across to his contact in Austria who told him how highly rated the 19 year old is.

Originally a midfielder he was converted to a left back by the coaches of the Nigerian U17 team, and it’s probably why till date he is still very comfortable in possession and always make himself available when building up from the back.

Although still not certain to make the team for the tournament, Chelle is however given him a chance to feel he is under his radar by including him in his preliminary list with a view of handing him his debut in the nearest future.

Quick, strong, highly technical and also very combative he graduated from the same academy that produced Benjamin Fredrick owned by Ibukun Simon, the wife of Super Eagles star Moses Simon.

The Super Eagles list of the players picked by Eric Chelle for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco was reduced to 54 after one player asked to be left out, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Yesterday the NFF made public the list of players which is expected to be trimmed to 28 by Monday before the start of camping in Egypt on the 8th of December.

Chelle originally picked 55 players, but later had to settle for 54 after one player in Jordan Torunarigha asked to be left out of the squad for the tournament, except he is assured of making the final squad and a run in the team at the tournament proper.

Signed by Hamburg in the summer, Torunarigha who has been an unused substitute in two games under Chelle and want to be assured of his spot in the team, in order not to jeopardise his starting spot with the Bundesliga side.

Capped once by Nigeria, the 28 year old has played in five games this season and switched to Nigeria after representing Germany at several youth levels, before switching to Nigeria three years ago.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Barring a last minute change of mind head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has already picked the 28 players who will represent Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Like we exclusively reported last week, the coach has already picked a 28 man list for the tournament despite the announcement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that he will pick his final 28 players on Monday.

Chelle is waiting on the fitness report of the injured duo of Ola Aina and Felix Agu before making a definite decision on their inclusion, which was done after both players insisted that they will be fit and available for the tournament.

Below is the 28 man list for the tournament.

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese FC, Italy);

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); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy);

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic); Cyriel Dessers ( Panathinaikos).

Head Coach Eric Chelle has picked Captain William Ekong, ace forward Victor Osimhen, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in a provisional list of 55 players for the upcoming 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Moses and Chidera Ejuke are also listed.

The list also has Nigeria Premier Football League stars Abdulrasheed Shehu, Ebenezer Harcourt, Ekeson Okorie, Chisom Orji and Adekunle Adeleke.

A final list of 28 players will be drawn from the provisional list in a matter of days.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to arrive at a training camp in Egypt on Wednesday, 10th December. The team is expected to play a couple of friendly matches before the tournament begins on Sunday, 21st December.

Nigeria is in Group C of the tournament alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.

54 PLAYERS IN PROVISIONAL LIST OF NIGERIA FOR 35TH AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS MOROCCO 2025

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese FC, Italy); Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC, Greece); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos);

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); 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); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors);

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel); Peter Agba (Maccabi Haifa, Israel); Tom Dele-Bashiru (Gençlerbirligi SK, Turkey)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic Glasgow, Scotland); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen, Germany); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece); Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes); Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic); Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United); Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves); Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (OH Leuven, Belgium); Philip Otele (FC Basel, Switzerland); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961 (Croatia); Emmanuel Michael (Linzer Athletik SK, Austria)

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu has been given the all clear to represent Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Like we exclusively reported last week , the 23 year old has already pledged his international future to Nigeria despite his eligibility for England but was facing difficulties in securing a Nigerian passport.

That report got to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who helped in quicken the process and he finally got his passport, given head coach Eric Chelle the permission to include him in his squad for the tournament.

Chelle is said to be keen on the defender who has been a revelation this season in England, largely due to the injury to Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredrick who have both filled in at right back in big games ahead of Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Alebiosu is excepted to push Osayi-Samuel for the right back spot and with his performance so far in the same league as the Birmingham City man, it’s surely looking like he will get the nod.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team Eric Chelle has handed a first time call up to Viktoria Plzen of Czech Republic forward Rafiu Durosinmi in his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com exclusively gathered.

22 year old Durosinmi has 12 goals in 27 games this season proving his full recovery from the knee injury that cost him a move to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt 18 months ago.

Chelle has been largely impressed with his performance this season particularly in the Europa league where he has two goals in five games. He also scored twice in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers this season.

He is seen by the coach as a suitable back up option to Osimhen, but he faces stiff competition from the trio of Terem Moffi, Jerome Akor and Tolu Arokodare. Paul Onuachu is also set for a return to the team after his exploits in Turkey this season.

” I can tell you that Chelle spoke with the agent of Durosinmi before including him in his list of players for the tournament. We will wait to see if he makes the final 28 man list”, a source revealed.

The list of players is expected to be made public later today with the team’s camp set to open on the 8 of December in Egypt.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has picked his final squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The coach who initially submitted a 55 man list for the tournament to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and after yesterday’s meeting with the technical committee of the football house he picked his final team.

Chelle picked 28 players rather than the 27 permitted by CAF with an argument that he wants an addition player with doubts over the fitness of a certain player who could end up not making it.

A target of reaching the semi final was also set for the Malian with the NFF showing their full backing to him as the one to start the rebuilding of the team. Chelle also picked five new players in the team.

It is expected that the list will be made public later today by the NFF with the camp of the team opening on the 8th of December in Egypt.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman