The Nigerian football team have appeared in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on twenty different occasions. Nigeria has won the cup three times; the first time was in 1980, the second title in 1994, and the third title in 2013.
Now, the three-time champions are out in Ivory Coast to contend for the 2024 AFCON title.
In December 2023, the NFF announced the Super Eagles provisional squad for the AFCON 2024. It was a 40-man list and was later chiseled down to 25 players.
Here’s a full list of the Super Eagles players at the AFCON 2024:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabili
Stanley Nwabali is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Premier Soccer League club Chippa United and the Nigeria national team. He was born on June 10, 1996. Stanley Nwabili earned his first cap for the Nigerian national team in an international friendly against Mexico in the US.
Francis UzohoÂ
Francis Odinaka Uzoho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Cypriot First Division club Omonia and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 28 October 1998.
Olorunleke Ojo
Olorunleke Oluwasegun Ojo is a Nigerian goalkeeper. He was born on 17 August 1995. He currently plays for Enyimba International FC. Before Enyimba FC, he had played for Abia Warriors FC and Nigeria Under 20. Ojo has been a regular face in the Super Eagles set-up, having been invited to the team in the last four international windows.
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong
William Paul Troost-Ekong is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for the Greek Super League club PAOK and the Nigeria national team.
He was born in the Netherlands into a mixed Dutch and Nigerian family, he was eligible for both the Netherlands and Nigeria in international football. He made his debut for Nigeria in 2015 and has since earned more than 60 caps.
He captained the Super Eagles in the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and was named in the tournament Technical Study Group’s Best XI of the Group Stage, scoring against Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria went on to be knocked out by Tunisia in the following round.
Bright Osayi Samuel
Bright Osayi-Samuel is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a right-back or winger for Süper League club Fenerbahçe and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 31 December 1997 in Okija, Nigeria, and then moved with his family to Spain before emigrating to England when he was 10 years old, settling in Woolwich, London. Before Fenerbahçe, he had played for clubs like Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Blackpool.
After successful seasons with Fenerbahçe, on 11 November 2022, Osayi-Samuel received his first International call-up from Nigeria to play in a friendly game against Portugal. He was in the starting eleven and played 90 minutes for his international debut.
Ola Aina
Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina is a professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Born in England, he plays for the Nigeria national team. He was born on 8 October 1996.
He currently plays for Nottingham Forest. He has played for Fulham, Torino, and Hull City, in the past.
On 25 December 2021, He was shortlisted for the 2021 AFCON Nations Cup by Caretaker Coach Eguavoen as part of the 28-man Nigeria Squad.
Zaidu Sanusi
Zaidu Sanusi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Primeira Liga club Porto and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 13 June 1997.
He spent his senior career in Portugal, playing in the Primeira Liga with Santa Clara and Porto, winning a league and Taça de Portugal double with the latter in 2022.
Sanusi made his senior international debut for Nigeria in 2020 and played at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Bruno Onyemaechi
Sopuruchukwu Bruno Onyemaechi is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for Boavista and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 3 April 1999.
On 17 August 2022, Onyemaechi joined Boavista on a season-long loan with an option to buy. In June 2023, Boavista triggered the option and signed him on a permanent deal.
On 10 September 2023, Onyemaechi made his international debut for Nigeria, playing as a left-back for the full 90 minutes of a 6–0 victory over São Tomé and PrÃnciple.
Semi Ajayi
Oluwasemilogo Adesewo Ibidapo Ajayi is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion. Born in England, he represents the Nigeria national team. He was born on 9 November 1993.
On 20 July 2019, Ajayi signed for West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee, agreeing a four-year contract with the club. On 27 December 2020, Ajayi scored his first Premier League goal for Albion in a 1–1 away draw against champions Liverpool.
Ajayi received his first call-up to the senior team in August 2018 for the 2019 African Cup of Nations Qualifiers, he described it as a “dream” call-up. He made his debut against Seychelles in the 2019 Nation Cup qualifiers, coming on for the injured Chidozie Awaziem in the 73rd minute.
Calvin Bassey
Calvin Chinedu Bassey is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back or a centre-back for Premier League club Fulham. Born in Italy, he plays for the Nigeria national team. He was born on 31 December 1999.
Bassey was a product of Leicester City’s youth system but did not make a senior appearance for the club before joining Rangers on a free transfer in July 2020. He made 65 appearances over two seasons for Rangers and won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup. In July 2022, he signed for Dutch club Ajax, with Rangers receiving the highest transfer fee in their history. The following July, he signed for English club Fulham.
In 2021, Bassey committed his international future to Nigeria when he accepted a call-up for their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He debuted with Nigeria in a 0–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tie with Ghana on 25 March 2022.
Chidozie Awaziem
Chidozie Collins Awaziem is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Portuguese club Boavista. He was born on 1 January 1997.
Awaziem was included in Gernot Rohr’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, being an unused player as the tournament ended in a group stage exit. He was also picked for the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenneth Omuero
Kenneth Josiah Omeruo, born 17 October 1993, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Süper Lig club Kasımpaşa and the Nigeria national team. Omeruo signed for Chelsea from Standard Liège in January 2012 and upon signing went on loan to Dutch top-flight side ADO Den Haag. Then only 19, he impressed enough in the Eredivisie to earn a call-up to the Nigerian national team.
Now a regular international, Omeruo has represented Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. Omeruo cemented a place in the starting line-up at the Africa Cup of Nations as it turned into a wonderful tournament for the Super Eagles and they emerged from the tournament victorious. In 2019 he scored his first goal in the Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea. He was a key part of the Super Eagles team that won the bronze medal in 2019.
Midfielders:
Frank Onyeka
Ogochukwu Frank Onyeka is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Brentford and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 1 January 1998.
Onyeka received his first call-up for the Nigeria national team on 22 September 2020 for the friendly matches against Algeria and Tunisia in Austria on 5 and 9 October 2020, respectively. He made his debut with the Nigeria national team in a friendly 1–0 loss to Algeria on 9 October 2020. He scored his first goal for Nigeria on 16 October 2023, in a 3-2 win over Mozambique.
Joseph Ayodele-Aribo
Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Southampton and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 21 July 1996.
He began his club career at Staines Town and then spent four years with Charlton Athletic in the English Football League. In 2019 he signed for Rangers, where he won the Scottish Premiership in 2021 and the Scottish Cup a year later.
Born and raised in London, Aribo plays for the Nigeria national team, being eligible due to his heritage. He gained his first cap in 2019 and was part of their squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Alex Iwobi
Alexander Chuka Iwobi, born 3 May 1996, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Fulham and the Nigeria national team.
Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, making 149 appearances and scoring 15 goals, and winning the FA Cup in 2017, as well as scoring in the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final. In August 2019, he transferred to Everton for an initial £28 million fee.
Iwobi represented England up to under-18 level. He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015 and was part of their squads at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and 2021, finishing third in the 2019 tournament.
Raphael Onyedika
Raphael Onyedika Nwadike is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian club Club Brugge and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 19 April 2001. On 28 August 2022, Onyedika signed a five-year contract with Club Brugge in Belgium.
Alhassan Yusuf
Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian First Division A club Royal Antwerp. He was born on 20 July 2000.
From 2018 to 2021, Yusuf played for Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg. On 16 July 2021, Belgian club Antwerp announced that they had reached an oral agreement with IFK Göteborg over the transfer of Yusuf.
Forwards:
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Promise Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team. A prolific goal scorer with creative abilities, he was a highly promising talent during his youth. He is nicknamed Senior Man and is renowned for his vision, dribbling, speed and finishing.
In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
On 25 December 2021, Iheanacho was shortlisted in Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations 28-man squad by caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen. He scored Nigeria’s first goal of the tournament in the 30th minute of their opening match victory against Egypt.
Victor Oshimen
Victor James Osimhen MFR is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team. Considered one of the best strikers in the world, he is known for his elite finishing, pace, strength and athleticism.
He was ranked number 8 in the 2023 Ballon d’Or award which was held in Paris, France and became the first Nigerian to make the top ten of the Ballon d’Or. On the 11th of December, 2023, Osimhen was awarded the Best Male Player of the Year in Africa at the 2023 CAF award night, the first Nigerian since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
Osimhen started the qualification for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers in sparkling form helping Nigeria win both of their first two matches.
Osimhen netted a goal against Sierra Leone and another four goals in a 10–0 win against São Tomé and PrÃncipe. Osimhen’s super hat-trick was his first senior international hat-trick for the Super Eagles. In the reverse fixture played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on 10 September 2023, Osimhen scored his second international hat-trick in Nigeria’s 6–0 win against São Tomé and Principe, finishing the 2023 AFCON qualifiers as top scorer with 10 goals.
Samuel Chukwueze
Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Serie A club AC Milan and the Nigeria national team.
In May 2019, Chukwueze was invited to represent Nigeria’s senior team at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Under-20 team at the Under-20 World Cup. However, Villarreal said he could only play in one of the tournaments. He ultimately decided to take part with Nigeria’s senior squad for the Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Egypt and scored his first senior goal in Nigeria’s 2–1 win over South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman Olajade Alade Aylola Lookman is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A club Atalanta. Born in England, he plays for the Nigeria national team.
Lookman made his senior debut in 2015, playing as a forward for Charlton Athletic of the Championship. He signed for Everton in January 2017, where he played mainly as a winger. He has represented England from under-19 to under-21 levels. In 2022, Lookman made his debut for Nigeria.
Moses Simon
Moses Daddy-Ajala Simon is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward or left winger for Ligue 1 club Nantes and the Nigeria national team. He was born on 12 July 1995.
Simon received his first call-up to the Nigeria national team by Coach Daniel Amokachi in March 2015 and made his debut on the 25th of the same month in an international friendly against Uganda, when he replaced Anthony Ujah after 59 minutes in the game. Simon scored his first goal for Nigeria in an international friendly against Niger on 8 September 2015, the second in a 2–0 win. He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In May 2018, he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, he did not make the final 23 due to injury. He was included in the country’s 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ahmed Musa
Ahmed Musa is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward and left winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Sivasspor and the Nigeria national team.
Musa became the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match, after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Musa is also the first Nigerian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions, after scoring twice against Iceland in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. With 108 appearances, he is Nigeria’s most capped player since November 2021. Musa was a member of the Al Nassr squad that won the Saudi Premier League and Saudi Super Cup, both in 2019.
In May 2018 he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Though his performance against Iceland was superb, it was not enough to keep the West Africans in the tournament as they were eliminated by Argentina.
On 22 June 2018, Musa scored twice in a 2–0 victory over Iceland in their second group match of the World Cup. In June 2019 he became the third most-capped player for Nigeria’s national team, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu, after appearing in a friendly against Zimbabwe. He was named in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations team by head coach Gernot Rohr. He was also part of the Nigerian squad at the 2021 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Cameroon.
Paul Onuachu
Ebere Paul Onuachu is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Trabzonspor on loan from EFL Championship club Southampton and the Nigeria national team.
Born on 28 May 1994, Onuachu has won League titles in Denmark and Belgium, and while in the latter country was voted Belgian Footballer of the Year and won the country’s top-scoring Golden Bull trophy.
Onuachu was called up to the Nigeria under-23 national team in February 2015. In March 2019 he received his first call-up to the Nigerian senior team.
On 26 March 2019, Onuachu scored his first goal for Nigeria in a friendly match against Egypt.
Terem Moffi
Teremas “Terem” Igobor Moffi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Nice and the Nigeria national team.
Born 25 May 1999, On 1 October 2020, Moffi joined Ligue 1 side Lorient on a permanent deal.
On 31 January 2023, he signed for Nice on loan until the end of the season, with an obligation to buy for €30 million and a 15% sell-on clause in favour of Lorient.
On 14 May 2021, Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr included Moffi in his 31-man list for friendlies in June. Moffi debuted with the Super Eagles in a 1–0 loss to Cameroon on 4 June 2021
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