Captain William Ekong, along with a host of star players including Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, the electric Moses Simon, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, and 19 other talented footballers, are set to battle for vital points in the final rounds of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda this month.
Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called up a well-rounded squad that features goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, and Bruno Onyemaechi, and midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi. Attacking options include Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze.
There are exciting new additions as well, with home-based defender Victor Collins earning his first senior call-up, and the return of Real Sociedad’s powerful forward Sadiq Umar. France-based Gabriel Osho, who missed the summer camp due to injury, is also named, aiming to make his long-awaited competitive debut for the national team.
With the race for AFCON qualification heating up, the Super Eagles are ready to deliver on the pitch, and every player in the squad will be eager to play their part in securing those crucial six points.
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The Super Eagles will fly directly to Abidjan on 11 November, for the confrontation with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday, 14th November, before traveling down to Uyo for the final qualifying game against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Monday, 18th November.
Currently top of their Group D, the Super Eagles will be certain of a place in the final tournament if they get a point against the Cheetahs, which will take then to 11 points, and with only final-day opponents Rwanda capable of catching up with them on points. However, with a current tally of seven goals for and none against (following the CAF Disciplinary Board’s award of three points and three goals for the botched Matchday 4 encounter against Libya), the Super Eagles stand head and shoulders above the Amavubi, who have one-goal deficit and five points in their favour going into the final two matchdays.
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
