(DDM) – Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, is facing mounting pressure as new Confederation of African Football regulations reshape squad preparation ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Chelle recently submitted a 55-man provisional list, marking the first official step in Nigeria’s preparation for the continental competition.
The development comes at a critical moment for the Super Eagles as the nation continues its long pursuit of a fourth AFCON title.
CAF’s latest update allows participating teams to name up to 27 players in their final tournament roster.
This policy shift is intended to provide teams with tactical flexibility and injury cover following lessons learned from recent AFCON editions disrupted by injuries, travel complications, and congested schedules.
For Chelle, however, the expanded squad allowance presents an added challenge rather than relief.
The Nigerian federation will only receive financial support from CAF for 23 players.
CAF’s regulation means that federations must personally finance the remaining four slots if they choose to carry the full 27-man list.
This financial reality forces Chelle to make delicate choices between squad depth, team balance, and the federation’s budgeting limitations.
Sources quoted by Soccernet revealed that Chelle is expected to trim the provisional list significantly before the final squad submission deadline.
The training camp in Morocco opens on December 8, giving the coach
just days to assess form, fitness, and tactical suitability.
The final squad announcement is expected before the December 21 tournament kickoff, leaving little room for errors in judgment.
The provisional 55-man list includes several familiar faces who have worked closely with Chelle since he took charge.
It also features a few emerging players hoping to break into the senior national setup during one of the most competitive AFCON cycles in recent years.
Chelle’s selection dilemma is intensified by Nigeria’s recent history of narrow failures at major tournaments.
Nigeria reached the final of the previous AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire but lost in a dramatic contest that renewed public demand for overdue continental success.
Many fans still believe the Super Eagles possess one of the strongest talent pools on the continent but lack the consistency and tactical clarity needed to convert potential into trophies.
Chelle is therefore under public and institutional pressure to assemble a squad capable of delivering Nigeria’s first AFCON title since 2013.
The coach’s ability to balance experience, youth development, and tactical cohesion will likely define Nigeria’s fate in Morocco.
Analysts note that Chelle’s previous selections suggest a preference for stability, but the enlarged provisional list signals readiness to experiment if necessary.
The new CAF rule also places greater scrutiny on federations to manage resources effectively and support their technical teams without compromising competitive standards.
As the countdown to AFCON 2025 intensifies, Nigeria’s football community remains cautious but hopeful.
Chelle’s next decisions will shape not only Nigeria’s squad but also the national mood heading into Africa’s biggest football competition.