AFCON Qualifiers: Osimhen Out as Eguavoen Names 23-Man Squad

Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has unveiled a 23-man squad ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya.

In the list released on Saturday, Eguavoen omitted Osimhen due to injury concerns but included in-form Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman in the squad.

Osimhen suffered a muscle injury during Galatasaray’s Super Lig clash against Kasimpașa on September 28. The 25-year-old striker sustained a sprain in his upper left posterior muscle group, put him on the back burner for a few weeks as confirmed by the Turkish club.

Also, South Africa-based centre-back Olisa Ndah, is omitted from the list on grounds of injury.

The list includes skipper William Ekong, Winger Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Stanley Nwabali, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, and Victor Boniface. The team welcomes back Chidera Ejuke, who returns to the fold for the first time since 2022.

Nigeria will face the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in a home-and-away match, starting with a match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, October 11. The return leg will be played at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Beghazi on Tuesday, October 15.

According to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), all invited players are expected to report to camp in Uyo on Monday 7^th October.

FULL SQUAD LIST:

Goalkeepers:

• Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
• Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
• Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders:

• William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
• Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey)
• Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
• Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
• Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
• Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, 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)
• Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain)
• Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
• Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain)
• Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
• Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
• Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)

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