NFF named a 23-man Super Eagles roster, but the list leaves some familiar faces out in the cold, while a few unexpected names were added.

The Super Eagles squad for the upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers has been revealed, with the camp set to open on Monday ahead of the clashes with Benin and Rwanda. 

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has named a 23-man roster, but the list leaves some familiar faces out in the cold, while a few unexpected names have made the cut.

The Shocks and Surprises

On Tuesday morning, the NFF announced Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, swiftly followed by the release of the squad list for the qualifiers.

While this list was likely drawn up by the NFF due to the recent appointment of a new coach, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that some key names are missing.

Two Big Names Missing

No Place For Dessers

Perhaps the most glaring omission is Cyriel Dessers. Despite a blistering start to the season with Rangers where he has netted five goals and provided one assist in just six games—Dessers has once again been overlooked. 

His exclusion is particularly baffling considering his recent form, tallying 12 goals in his last 16 Premiership starts.

For Dessers, it seems his role with the national team has been relegated to friendly matches, where all six of his caps have come, mostly as a substitute. 

At 29, the striker was surprisingly left out of the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year and was similarly snubbed during the last World Cup qualifying matches under former coach Finidi George.

Given his consistent performances at club level, one would expect Dessers to break into the Super Eagles, especially with several of the squad’s regular forwards facing their own challenges.

Victor Osimhen has yet to play a single minute this season due to ongoing transfer drama with Napoli.

The same goes for Victor Boniface who missed Bayer Leverkusen’s opening Bundesliga match due to suspension, and Taiwo Awoniyi who is still working his way back to full fitness after an injury layoff, and has mostly been a substitute option for Nottingham Forest.

Considering Dessers’ stats, one would assume he had done enough to earn a call-up under these circumstances. But the NFF clearly thinks otherwise.

Tolu Arokodare – Genk

Another surprising exclusion is Tolu Arokodare. While he’s yet to earn his first cap for Nigeria, Tolu’s form for Genk this season—four goals in four appearances—suggests he’s more than ready to don the green and white. Last season, he scored 15 goals and 3 assists, making a strong case for his inclusion.

Yet, despite ongoing debates about the lack of competition in the squad and the regular call-ups of certain players, Tolu remains on the outside. 

Is there really no one to challenge the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze?

The Returnees

On a brighter note, the squad sees the return of some key players. Captain William Troost-Ekong, who recently signed with Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood, is back after a long-term injury that kept him out since AFCON 2023. 

His absence was keenly felt during the World Cup qualifiers under former coach Finidi George, and his return is a significant boost for the defense.

Ola Aina also makes his return after being sidelined with an injury during AFCON. He missed the World Cup qualifiers but is back and ready to make an impact. 

Similarly, Moses Simon, who was injured during an international friendly against Mali, has fought his way back onto the pitch and is also on the list. He has already featured in two games for Nantes this season, scoring a goal.

The Bigger Picture

While the squad list raises eyebrows, it doesn’t change the fact that the Super Eagles remain a formidable force as they look to returning back to winning ways.

Their last two performances in World Cup qualifiers were far from ideal—a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Uyo and a loss to Benin Republic.

With a new coach who has been tagged a “relegation expert,” there’s hope to see a reformed Super Eagles, especially with the talents in the squad.

However, these selections spark debates about the criteria for selection and whether the best-performing players are truly being called up.

Full Squad List

Goalkeepers:

Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie

Defenders: 

William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olisa Ndah, Bruno Onyemaechi, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina

Midfielders:

Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Abdullahi Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi

Forwards:

Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi