The Super Eagles, still fresh from their FIFA World Cup miss, would be aiming to make amends by lifting a fourth African title.
To achieve this, coach Eric Chelle has invited a large pool of players to choose from, with the Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen, captain William Troost-Ekong, and Fulham’s trio of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze making the cut.
Making a return to the squad are former Leicester City star Kelechi Iheanacho, Cyriel Dessers, Paul Onuachu and Igoh Ogbu, who plays for Czech Republic side Slavia Prague.
Former Arsenal youth player Ryan Alebiosu, LASK full-back Emmanuel Michael, and Viktoria Plzen’s Rafiu Durosinmi would be aiming to break into the star-studded squad.
Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United), Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves), Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes), Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors) and Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos) are the only players from the Nigeria Professional Football League who made the cut.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the last edition held in Cote d’Ivoire, must navigate their way past the one-time African champions Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C.
Chelle’s men will begin their quest for a fourth African title against Taifa Stars on December 23rd at the Fez Stadium in Fez.
Preliminary Nigeria squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese, Italy); Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC, Greece); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos);
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors);
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel); Peter Agba (Maccabi Haifa, Israel); Tom Dele-Bashiru (Gençlerbirligi SK, Turkey)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolves, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic, Scotland); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen, Germany); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece); Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes); Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic); Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United); Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves); Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (OH Leuven, Belgium); Philip Otele (Basel, Switzerland); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961 (Croatia); Emmanuel Michael (Linzer Athletik SK, Austria)
