AFCON 2025: Top 5 players that may likely miss Super Eagles final squad

Fans worldwide now face a year-long wait for the 35th edition of the tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on December 21, 2025, in Morocco. With the excitement from the spectacular 2023 AFCON still fresh in fans’ minds, the upcoming championship promises to set even higher standards.

With over 600 players at the AFCON, other stars will be missing due to injuries, and others from Africa’s biggest competition.

In the case of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, certain players may likely miss the tournament due to poor forms in their respective clubs and national team duties. This feature is based on statistics and recent individual performance, Thepapers reports…

Paul Onauchu (Southampton)

Onauchu’s performance in the national team is not encouraging enough to make the final AFCON 2025 squad, he’s one of the few strikers who has been firing blank for both club and country. His goal-scoring and overall performance this season for struggling Southampton is below what a coach can rely on. His chances of making Nigeria is very slim with several strikers doing well across the globe.

Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla)

Iheanacho is another doubting striker who may not make the squad, except the coach is being sentimental in his selections. Even his form in the last year for clubs has not justified his national team selection but he made teams for both AFCON and World Cup qualifiers. His selection is questionable. He plays for La Liga club Sevilla but he has not made a vital contribution to the former Europa League champions. The club is willing to part ways with him due to a lack of goals and performance. It will be a miracle for him to make the final squad for AFCON in Morocco.

Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen)

Shortly after the defeat to Rwanda in Akwa Ibom, Super Eagles fans across the world have advised Bayern Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface to step aside his national team career after failing consistently to hit the net. At the club level, Boniface is regarded as one of the finest strikers painting the German Bundesliga with goals but this is not enough for a high profile player to be included in national team competition where top strikers will be competing and he could be struggling to register a goal. His chances to make the team are dicey except injury occurs to others but on paper, he does not have the record to lead the Super Eagles attack. His goal ratio is something to worry about.

At some point, Super Eagles interim head coach, Austin Eguavoen, offered insights into Victor Boniface’s current form, emphasising the striker’s potential while acknowledging his challenges in front of goal for the national team. His selection could raise the integrity of the coach tactically.

Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa)

Kenneth Omeruo is a 31-year-old Nigerian professional footballer who plays for the Turkish side Kasimpasa. Omeruo has no role to play in this current Super Eagles defense line.

He was one of the most integral players in the Super Eagles team that won the AFCON 2023 trophy and has represented Nigeria at multiple international tournaments. Players like Semi Ajayi and Ekong have stabilized the uniqueness of the Super Eagles’ defense line. Omeruo should focus on his club career while planning for his retirement.

Joe Aribo (Southampton)

The emergence of Dele Bashiru and others could finally bid farewell to Joe Aribo in the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Aribo started well while playing for Rangers of Scotland, and his profile rose as one of the finest players to lift the new face of Super Eagles but things but his profile reduced after struggling with life in the English Premier League coupled with consistent injuries which resulted in reduces his first team shirt. For a player like Aribo to make the final Super Eagles squad to Morrocco could be a danger zone comparing the profiles of other countries’ players battling with Super Eagles with top form.

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