Why disrupted club careers kept several Super Eagles names out of Chelle’s AFCON 2025 squad.

Super Eagles

When Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle unveiled his final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the list confirmed the absence of several high-profile Nigerian stars.

For many of those left out, the reasons were clear: ill-timed transfers, limited playing minutes, injuries, and prolonged dips in form. In a tournament where match sharpness and rhythm are non-negotiable, disrupted club situations proved costly.

Below is a closer look at some of the notable absentees and how their club struggles derailed their AFCON ambitions.

Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace)

Christantus Uche

Christantus Uche’s omission is closely linked to a stalled Premier League transition following his deadline-day loan move from Getafe to Crystal Palace, a deal reportedly carrying a £17.3m obligation to buy.

After a breakout La Liga season that produced 10 goal contributions and earned him a senior Nigeria debut — capped by a winning penalty against Jamaica at the Unity Cup — expectations were high.

Instead, his London spell failed to take off. Uche made just six league appearances, all from the bench, totalling 75 minutes. He registered no goals, no assists, zero key passes, and averaged fewer than seven touches per game. A brief demotion to Palace’s U-21s further underlined concerns over sharpness and fitness.

Despite earlier call-ups, Chelle’s decision reflected a season that never found momentum.

Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Tolu Arokodare

Arokodare’s move to Wolves was expected to strengthen his Super Eagles status after a sensational season in Belgium, where he finished as top scorer and won the Ebony Shoe.

He even scored for Nigeria in the June window, including a key goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. But at club level, rhythm proved elusive.

Arokodare started just three league matches, clocking 352 minutes and scoring once. His shot output remained low, with fewer than one attempt per game, and his influence steadily waned. Crucially, he was omitted before scoring his first league goal, showing how timing worked against him.

Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad)

Sadiq Umar

Sadiq Umar’s return to Real Sociedad after a Valencia loan has been marked by reduced involvement. Once a regular Super Eagles option, he has now gone two consecutive years without an international appearance.

This season, Umar managed only 159 league minutes, failed to score, and registered no shots on target. While he won a penalty and created one big chance, his lack of continuity and sharpness left Chelle unconvinced.

Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic)

Kelechi Iheanacho

Iheanacho’s exclusion reflects a longer decline shaped by injuries and unstable club moves. After leaving Leicester City, his career stalled at Sevilla before a fresh start at Celtic was again disrupted by fitness issues.

Though named in the 54-man provisional squad, his lack of match fitness counted against him. Despite his heroics at the last AFCON — including a decisive penalty shootout goal against South Africa — Chelle prioritised forwards with greater physical readiness.

Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen)

Victor Boniface

Boniface’s case combined poor form and injury concerns. On loan at Werder Bremen following a failed move to AC Milan, the striker endured a difficult run, failing to score in 11 league appearances.

Despite posting an expected goals (xG) of 1.08, he converted none of his chances. A knee contusion and an international record of zero goals in 13 Nigeria caps further weakened his case, prompting the technical crew to look elsewhere.

Junior Nduka (Erbil)

Junior Nduka

Nduka’s absence highlights the risk faced by home-based stars who move abroad too early. Once captain of both Remo Stars and the Super Eagles B team, he featured in Nigeria’s Unity Cup squad.

However, his move to Erbil in Iraq removed him from regular national scouting focus. Despite consistent club appearances, the league’s lower visibility and reduced exposure ultimately ended his AFCON hopes.

Conclusion

For Eric Chelle, AFCON 2025 selection was about current form, match rhythm, and physical reliability. For those omitted, stalled transfers, injuries and reduced minutes proved decisive — a stark reminder that international opportunities are often won or lost at club level.