AFCON 2025: Ekpo Agrees with Chelle on New Faces in Super Eagles Squad

Former Super Eagles winger, Friday Ekpo has said that only the national team’s head coach, Eric Chelle, fully understands the reasoning behind the inclusion of several debutants in Nigeria’s final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelle on Thursday unveiled his selected players for the continental tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

The team list features a balanced mix of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and nine attackers.

A notable aspect of the squad is the presence of a number of new names who have not previously featured prominently for the Super Eagles.

Among them are Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, Pisa midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Israel-based Usman Muhammed, Zulte Waregem’s Tochukwu Nnadi and Istra 1961 forward Lawal Salim Fago.

Speaking on the development, Ekpo suggested that the coach’s decision may have been shaped by circumstances beyond public knowledge.

He hinted that fitness concerns and injuries to established players could have compelled Chelle to explore fresh options ahead of the tournament.

According to Ekpo, the technical crew would be best placed to justify the choices made, stressing that the ultimate goal would be to assemble a competitive squad capable of challenging for honours at the AFCON finals.