Barring a last minute change of mind, injury or suspension, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal the 27 players who have been informed that they are in the Super Eagles final list of player for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The players were picked from the provisional list put together by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro for the tournament, which he has been told holds the key to his continued stay in the job as coach.
A run to the final will trigger an automatic extension that will see the Portuguese remain in his job till until after the world cup qualifiers for the 2026 edition.
Below is the list of 27 players he has picked for the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire next year. He also placed six players on standby and it includes Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella, who made his debut for the team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe.
Two players on standby like Kevin Akpoguma and Tyrone Ebuehi are expected to be in with a chance with Peseiro unsure about two senior defenders. Terem Moffi who made the sqaud is another who isn’t certain to be on the plane just like Raphael Onyedika.
It’s still unclear why the coach has doubts over the duo.
The List
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel), Olorunleke Ojo ( Enyimba, Nigeria).
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkiye); Chidozie Awaziem ( Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo ( Kasimpasa, Turkey).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England).
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad , Spain); Terem Moffi (Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany), Ahmed Musa ( Sivasspor, Turkey).
Standby: Kelechi Nwakali, Nathan Tella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tyronne Ebuehi, Kevin Akpoguma. Jordan Torunarigha .
