- Nigeria’s Super Eagles prepare for their final AFCON 2025 qualifiers with key squad updates, including the return of striker Victor Osimhen
- Real Sociedad’s Sadiq Umar and Auxerre’s Gabriel Osho have been recalled, while Taiwo Awoniyi and Semi Ajayi miss out due to injuries
- Nigeria tops Group D and needs just one point from the games against Benin Republic and Rwanda to secure their AFCON spot
Ahead of Nigeria’s crucial AFCON 2025 qualifiers, the Super Eagles squad for November is packed with both familiar faces and new additions. Head coach Austine Eguavoen has recalled Real Sociedad’s Sadiq Umar and Auxerre’s Gabriel Osho for the matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda, providing the team with fresh options in attack and defence.
Real Sociedad striker Sadiq replaces Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi, who missed out due to injury, while Osho steps in for Semi Ajayi, who is also sidelined.
Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Player of the Year, is expected to lead the line, returning to the Super Eagles after missing recent games. Osimhen, now with Galatasaray, brings additional firepower as the team needs just a single point to secure a place in the AFCON tournament set to take place in Morocco next year.
Nigeria currently tops Group D with 10 points from four matches, benefiting from the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to award them three points following Libya’s inability to complete a fixture.
Interestingly, despite a recent dip in form, Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho has been included, with Eguavoen valuing the forward's experience and potential impact on the team. Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins also received a first-time call-up, adding depth to the left full-back position, where he will contend with Boavista’s Bruno Onyemaechi.
The Super Eagles face the Benin Republic on November 14 in Abidjan before returning to Uyo to take on Rwanda’s Amavubi on November 18.
The full roster sees a mix of established talents, emerging stars, and key players from top European leagues. Midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi add stability in the middle of the park, while forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze bring creativity and speed to the attack.
Full list of November 2025 AFCON qualifiers game
TheRadar has compiled below a full list of players representing Nigeria for the November showdown:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema, Ethiopia)
Defenders:
Gabriel Osho (Auxerre, France), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Victor Collins (Nasarawa United, Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), William Troost-Ekong (Al Khoolood, Saudi Arabia), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy), Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany), Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
Super Eagles withdraw from AFCON qualifier after 12-hour airport ordeal in Libya
Previously, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
This decision followed a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team was stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.
