The final Super Eagles squad for the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was released on Thursday, with some of the names coming as a big surprise.
NAIJA TIMES reviews the shock inclusions and exclusions in Eric Chelle’s 28-man selection, including a new, relatively unknown player, those recalled out of the blue, and the ones everyone expected to be in Morocco but will not…
INCLUSIONS
FRANCIS UZOHO (27, Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus; 35 caps, 35 goals conceded)
Although Uzoho has been in and around the national team since his first call-up in 2017, the goalkeeper had been in international wilderness for quite a while until this shock recall.
After the Omonia FC of Cyprus goalkeeper’s multiple clangers for the Super Eagles (especially the error against Ghana that ended Nigeria’s Qatar 2022 World Cup dreams), Uzoho’s stock plummeted.
The emergence of Stanley Nwabali just before the 2023 AFCON (held in Cote d’Ivoire in early 2024) relegated Uzoho to ‘training material’ status in the Super Eagles.
Indeed, the 27-year-old Uzoho’s last appearance for his country was as a late substitute for Nwabali in the 2-0 win over Cameroon in the round of 16 of the 2023 AFCON.
Since that match almost two years ago, Uzoho had rarely been invited, but his surprise inclusion for the 2025 AFCON could be linked to his decent form in the UEFA Conference League with Omonia (two clean sheets in four games), although he has made only one appearance in the Cypriot league after 13 rounds of matches.
PAUL ONUACHU (31, Trabzonspor of Turkey; 25 caps, 3 goals)
Onuachu’s club form since his first years in Europe has always been brilliant (except for the dry spell with Southampton in England), but he has always struggled to make an impact with the Super Eagles.
The towering striker has been overlooked by several Super Eagles coaches in recent years, and it is understandable.
While he has over the years excelled for FC
Midtjylland in Denmark (74 goals and 24 assists in 181 games), Genk in Belgium (85 goals and 10 assists in 134 matches) and Trabzonspor (28 goals and five assists in 41 appearances), Onuachu has produced a measly three goals from 25 Nigeria caps.
Onuachu’s last Super Eagles appearances were in the World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic (1-1, 2-1 defeat) in June 2024, both of which he started and did not score.
He has been out of reckoning for 18 months, hence why it is a surprise that Onuachu has been recalled for AFCON, even with his 11 goals in 16 appearances for Trabzonspor this season.
SALIM FAGO LAWAL (22, NK Istra 1961 of Croatia; no caps)
Salim who? That was the general reaction from most Nigerian football followers when Lawal’s name was first seen in the squad.
While he is not the only first-timer in the squad, others like Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa in Serie A, on loan from Inter Milan), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem of Belgium) and Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, were all already on the Super Eagles’ horizon.
Although he featured for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2023, Lawal’s promotion to the Super Eagles, especially for a tournament as important as AFCON, is a big surprise.
The young wide forward could end up being a pleasant surprise though, as he been impressive in the Croatian top flight, starting all 16 matches for his club this season and contributing four goals and two assists.
EXCLUSIONS
MADUKA OKOYE (26, Udinese of Italy; 18 caps, 14 goals conceded)
The only plausible explanation for Okoye’s absence is that he opted out, and that is what is being speculated at the moment.
With doubts surrounding the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Okoye would have been the one expected to step in if the Chippa United star failed to make full recovery before the tournament.
Okoye was once the first choice in goal for the Super Eagles, but has since lost his place to Nwabali, who has been excellent since taking the spot at the 2023 AFCON.
The Germany-born Okoye was still in the Super Eagles squad for the World Cup play-offs in November, after making a return following his ban for betting breaches.
He is in good form and is back as No.1 for Udinese in Serie A, therefore the perfect understudy for Nwabali.
As it is, without Okoye, the Super Eagles are left with Uzoho and the untested Amas Obasogie if Nwabali cannot play.
TOLU AROKODARE (25, Wolves of England; 10 caps, 2 goals).
Arokodare was poor in his last appearance for the Super Eagles as they lost the World Cup play-offs African final to the Democratic Republic of Congo in November, but he was still expected to be in the AFCON squad.
The Wolves striker had a dismal outing against DR Congo like the rest of the team in the absence of the injured Victor Osimhen, so it is a shock that he would have been dropped on the basis of that performance.
Arokodare would have been a useful option off the bench when the Super Eagles are chasing the game, with his towering presence and goal threat.
Arokodare has scored twice for the Super Eagles in 10 appearances, including the only goal in the 1-0 victory over Rwanda in September when he came on as a substitute.