Nigeria’s Super Eagles B side has been dealt a heavy blow just weeks before the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), with seven players from the initial squad ruled out of the tournament, Footynaija.com reports.
CHAN, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is exclusively for players plying their trade in their country’s domestic leagues.
However, five members of Nigeria’s provisional list have now become ineligible after completing transfers to clubs abroad — a move that disqualifies them under CHAN rules.
The affected players include Abubakar Sadiq (formerly of Plateau United), Philip Adejo (Abia Warriors), Saviour Isaac (Rangers), Papa Daniels Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), and Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City). Their moves overseas were confirmed in a statement from team officials, who admitted that their sudden exits have complicated selection plans.
Adding to the selection headache is an injury to Rangers defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, who will not be joining the squad. Meanwhile, promising goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt remains unavailable due to his commitments with Nigeria’s U-20 national team.
The withdrawals leave Head Coach Eric Chelle facing serious depth issues ahead of the tournament. With preparations gathering pace, the Nigeria Football Federation is yet to announce whether replacements will be drafted into the squad.
Despite the setback, Nigeria remains focused on improving upon its 2018 silver-medal finish, with the final squad expected to be named shortly.