The Super Eagles camp has swelled to 16 players following the arrival of Nantes winger Moses Simon and midfielder Alhassan Yusuf in Uyo on Tuesday morning. The duo joined the rest of the squad as Nigeria prepares for their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying match against Benin Republic on Saturday.
Moses Simon, who has been in exceptional form for Nantes in recent weeks, is expected to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s upcoming fixture.
The winger has been impressive in his last three matches for his French club and will be eager to carry that momentum into the national team.
Simon’s ability to break down defenses and create chances will be crucial as the Super Eagles look to secure a vital win in their campaign to qualify for AFCON 2025, which will be hosted in Morocco.
Alhassan Yusuf, who plies his trade in Belgium with Royal Antwerp, also arrived at the camp, further boosting Nigeria’s midfield options.
His presence adds depth and versatility to the squad, which has now grown to 16 players with more expected to report for duty in the coming hours.
The influx of players means interim head coach Austin Eguavoen is nearing a full complement of his squad ahead of their first training session.
Eguavoen will be aiming to drill his tactics into the players quickly, with Saturday’s match fast approaching.
The Super Eagles are under pressure to perform after a disappointing loss to the same Benin Republic side in the first leg of their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) previously announced a 23-man squad for the AFCON 2025 qualifying doubleheader against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The matches are critical for Nigeria, who are determined to secure their place in the continental tournament after missing out on a direct qualification in the last cycle.
The Super Eagles will be playing in front of their home crowd at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, and the expectation is high for a strong performance.
The team’s last outing against Benin Republic left much to be desired, and they will be looking to redeem themselves with a victory.
Interim head coach Eguavoen, who took over from former coach Gernot Rohr, will be under scrutiny as he seeks to guide Nigeria through these crucial qualifiers.
Simon and Yusuf’s arrival means the Super Eagles squad now includes several key players, such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Alex Iwobi.
As more players continue to arrive, the camp is expected to reach full strength, ensuring that Nigeria has its best possible lineup for the qualifiers.
Here is the current list of players who have reported to camp:
- William Troost-Ekong
- Ola Aina
- Semi Ajayi
- Ademola Lookman
- Olisa Ndah
- Taiwo Awoniyi
- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
- Wilfred Ndidi
- Frank Okoye
- Calvin Bassey
- Alex Iwobi
- Moses Simon
- Alhassan Yusuf
- Amas Obasogie
- Stanley Nwabali
- Victor Boniface
As the Super Eagles build up to their AFCON 2025 qualifying opener, fans and football pundits alike will be keenly watching how the team performs under new leadership.
With players continuing to join the camp and a solid tactical plan being formulated, the expectation is that Nigeria will begin their qualifying campaign with a convincing performance.
AFCON 2025: Fixtures, Results, Scores and Standings Jan 18, 2026
