Nigeria Unveils 24-Man Squad For AFCON 2023

The Nigeria national team has announced its final 24-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to kick off on January 13 in Ivory Coast.

The squad was revealed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday ahead of the continent’s biggest football showpiece.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho lead a strong contingent of attackers in the Super Eagles team. Watford winger Emmanuel Dennis is a notable omission while Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar returns to the fold.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen also named team captain Ahmed Musa, villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, Nantes star Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman who is enjoying a rich vein of form at Italian side Atlanta.

Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble joins long-time number one Francis Uzoho and Ojo Oluwasegun in the goalkeeping department.

In defence, familiar names like William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey were selected alongside less-experienced players.

The three-time African champions are in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and debutants Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria will hope to improve on their disappointing last-16 exit in Cameroon last year.

The Super Eagles’ first match is against debutants Equatorial Guinea on January 14.