Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze has said the Super Eagles final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is questionable.
On Thursday, the Super Eagles final squad for the AFCON was announced.
The final list is made up of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and nine forwards.
The surprise omissions include Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare, while Francis Uzoho and Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu are back after over a year out.
The squad also features several new faces across defence, midfield and attack.
In defence, Blackburn Rovers’ Ryan Alebiosu and Slavia Prague centre-back Igoh Ogbu both make the cut.
The new inclusions are Inter Milan midfielder and Remo Stars Academy product Ebenezer Akinsanmiro who is currently on loan to Pisa, 31-year-old Usman Muhammed, who plays in the second division in Israel and former Flying Eagles midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi are new. Croatia-based forward and ex-Flying Eagles striker Lawal Fago made the cut.
“For me the Super Eagles final squad list is questionable because there are some players I have nothing to do in the team,” Udeze said on Brila FM.
“Super Eagles is my team and I will support them but there’s something about this list . Why bring in a player that plays in the second division in Israel, it would have been better if that spot is given to a player from the NPFL.”
Udeze questioned the decision to leave out Okoye despite being a regular for Udinese in Serie A.
He said:”Also, leaving Maduka Okoye out is questionable. I want to know why he was left out because he is a regular for Udinese, but we have goalkeepers from Cyrpus and Tanzania who made the list.”
4 Comments
All we owed this team and nation is our support but truth be told these northern demon in nff has killed our football totally but one day everyone’s eyes shall open to realit the coach should also come out and explain to Nigerians what informed his choice of players and why he dropped those he dropped
I agree with Udeze that the squad selection is questionable. Outside the unjustifiable exclusion of Udinese no 1 keeper Okoye, replaced by the poorly, flapping Uzoho, I also question the inclusion of almost 4 aging, ineffectual 31+ years old in a team that struggles for fitness and energy when they meet physical, energetic African sides.
What is 31 years old Usman Mohammed from unknown div 2 low-side Israeli team doing on the squad? And what is Onuachu, Dessers doing there when there are younger, fitter and pacier wingers/strikers from the last twu-u20 teams that can complement Osimhen?
It’s going to be same story; Chelle just doesn’t want to experiment so he doesn’t lose his job- but he will lose his job carrying the same old brigade that struggled for fitness against Dr Congo, thinking he can win Afcon with them. He will be lucky to go beyond round of 16 with his unfit squad, as I place Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon and even Tunisia ahead of the SE squad.
Very questionable indeed. Please what is usman Mohammed bringing to the table. 31years old and playing in the second division in Israel. His he coming to understudy Ndidi and Iwobi that are 28 and 26yrs respectively? A player of that age should be coming as a starter. I swear hands hv temper with Chelle’s squad list. Im not expecting any great from thw team. Fans remove ur mind from Afcon and SE till further notice
Mr. Ifeanyi Udeze, there are some ethnic balancing in the list, we know it as federal character here.
For Okoye the goal keeper, he is first choice in Udinese, there is no need for him to come and sit on the bench for about 4 to 5 weeks in AFCON. The coach already knows his number 1 goal keeper which is Stanley Nwabali