Nigeria boss Eric Chelle has named a star studded, attack heavy squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, but his bold selection has raised eyebrows after the shock omission of in form striker Victor Boniface. The Super Eagles will head to Morocco with a staggering nine forwards in their 26 man party, signalling a gung ho approach to reclaiming the continental crown.
The big talking point is who’s not on the plane. Bayer Leverkusen’s powerhouse Boniface, a talisman for the Bundesliga leaders, has been left out entirely, alongside recent Wolves signing Tolu Arokodare. Instead, Chelle is placing his faith in the established firepower of African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and his successor Ademola Lookman, backed by a cast including Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and Paul Onuachu. It’s a selection that screams goals, but leaves the squad looking top heavy.
“We are blessed with options in attack, but these are the difficult decisions you must make,” Chelle is expected to say at a press conference later today. The inclusion of injured first choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali also suggests a gamble, with his fitness a major concern ahead of their tournament opener against Tanzania on December 23rd.
Fulham provide a strong Premier League core, with three players making the cut: defender Calvin Bassey, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and on loan winger Chukwueze who recently bagged a brace in that thrilling 5-4 defeat to Manchester City. The squad is a globe trotting mix, with players sourced from clubs in England, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and beyond, highlighting the vast diaspora of Nigerian talent.
Nigeria, three time champions and last year’s runners up to Ivory Coast, are tipped to top Group C alongside Tunisia. Their preparation includes a heavyweight friendly against Egypt in Cairo on December 16th, a crucial test for their new look, attack minded setup. They then base themselves in Fes for the group stages, where anything less than a deep run will be seen as a failure.
With such an embarrassment of riches up front, the pressure is squarely on Chelle and his star strikers to deliver. The exclusion of Boniface is a huge call one that could make the manager a genius or leave him facing fierce criticism if the Super Eagles’ firepower misfires when it matters.