Since Coach Éric Sékou Chelle unveiled his final 28-man Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, last Thursday the reactions has been instant, intense and ceaseless.
The reaction is centered around the five uncapped players included in the team at expense of several familiar names, sacrificing comfort for conviction.
Chelle has made a bold choice, backing freshness over familiarity as the nation chases a fourth AFCON title, surely he will surely be judged on the choices he made or not after the tournament.
Meanwhile the inclusion of Ryan Alebiosu, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Salim Fago Lawal, Usman Mohammed and Tochukwu Nnadi, in the Morocco bound Eagles will continue to form a topic of discussion.
We dig out the numbers, statistics behind these trusted uncapped five by Eric Sekou Chelle and we exposed the weapons they bring to the Super Eagles as the team fly AFCON 2025.
Ryan Alebiosu (Right-back – Blackburn Rovers)
Tall, athletic and composed, Ryan Alebiosu arrives with Premier League education and English Championship experience.
A product of Arsenal’s academy, refined by loan spells across England and Europe.
The 23-year-old is growing into a dependable full-back at Blackburn Rovers.
Standing at 1.88m, Alebiosu blends physical authority with positional intelligence—traits needed in wide defensive areas to give balance to the center back pair.
Nineteen league appearances and a goal this season makes him one of the dependable players for Blackburn Rovers and perhaps earned him a call to the continent’s biggest stage.
Strengths: Defensive awareness, physicality, work rate
Position: Right-back
Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Midfielder – Pisa)
Few uncapped players arrive with comparable momentum. Akinsanmiro is power and poise fused—a modern midfielder shaped at Beyond Limit and Nigeria National League pitches before moving to Italy to refine his tricks.
The journey started at Inter Milan U18 now on loan at Pisa, the 21-year-old has featured in 15 league games this season, standing out for his energy, close control and composure under pressure.
Nigeria’s midfield has long searched for athleticism and balance; Akinsanmiro may offer it.
Strengths: Physicality, ball control, stamina
Position: Central midfield
Usman Mohammed (Midfielder – Ironi Tiberias)
At 31, Usman Mohammed is the outlier and perhaps the insurance policy.
He is expected to bring maturity and not hype. Having played across Norway, Russia, Kazakhstan and Israel, and with Olympic football in his past, Mohammed understands tempo control and survival.
He may not dominate headlines, but AFCONs are often decided by players who know how to calm storms when needed and Mohammed Usman might just fill in the gap when call upon by coach Chelle.
Strengths: Versatility, passing range, experience
Position: Central/defensive midfield
Salim Fago Lawal (Forward – NK Istra)
A product of the Ladan Bosso’s Flying Eagles to the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Fago is a direct, fearless, and explosive. He is a winger who refuses to hesitate and takes a percentage amount of risk when needed.
With four goals and two assists in 16 games for NK Istra, the former youth international is enjoying a breakout season.
He thrives on isolating defenders and attacking space at speed.
Opportunities may be limited in Nigeria’s crowded attack, but AFCON has a habit of rewarding daring substitutes.
Strengths: Dribbling, ball carrying, direct play
Position: Forward
Tochukwu Nnadi (Midfielder – Zulte Waregem)
Another graduate of Nigeria’s 2023 U-20 World Cup squad, the 23-year-old has continued his rise in Belgium, where his tackling, mobility and physical presence stand out.
When matches turn scrappy and intense—as they often do at AFCON—Nnadi looks tailor-made, his tackling ability and stamina is a valuable asset.
Strengths: Tackling, stamina, physical presence
Position: Defensive/central midfield
A Gamble Worth Taking?
With five uncapped players, a gamble some consider too huge to take at short notice but Chelle’s selection is a statement of trust, and he is prepared to live or die with the consequences of his choices.
Whether these newcomers emerge as heroes, reliable squad options or villains but one truth is already certain: AFCON 2025 will alter their careers forever, for better or for worse.
