Training Intensifies as Departure for Zanzibar Begins
Following weeks of rigorous training at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, the selected players will depart Nigeria on Thursday evening aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Zanzibar, where the second phase of preparations will take place from July 25 to 31.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lined up two international friendlies against the Senior National Team of Zanzibar, scheduled for July 28 and July 31. These matches are aimed at strengthening team cohesion and refining tactical approaches ahead of their group stage opener.
“Arrangements have been firmed up for the friendly encounters,” the NFF confirmed, adding that the matches will be crucial in sharpening the squad before the tournament begins.
Tough Group Assignment for Nigeria
Drawn in Group D of the 19-team competition, Nigeria will face a challenging group stage campaign against defending champions Senegal, Sudan, and Congo.
The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches — against Senegal and Sudan — at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, before rounding off their group campaign against Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nigeria will be aiming to better their past achievements in the competition, having finished third in 2014 and runners-up in 2018.
Squad Composition: A Blend of Experience and Rising Talent
The final squad features a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents from across the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Team captain Junior Harrison Nduka, a standout defender from Remo Stars, headlines the list, alongside forward Godwin Obaje, known for his clinical finishing, and goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena Ani of Enyimba FC.
Several players from Remo Stars, one of the top-performing domestic clubs in recent years, make up the core of the squad, highlighting the team’s reliance on chemistry developed at club level.
🇳🇬 Nigeria’s Final 23-Man Squad for CHAN 2025
🧤 Goalkeepers:
- Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC)
- Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United)
- Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars)
🛡️ Defenders:
- Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars)
- Bankole Afeez (Kwara United)
- Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United)
- Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City)
- Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars)
- Ngengen Leonard (Ikorodu City)
- Steven Mayo Egbe (Rivers United)
🎯 Midfielders:
- Adedayo Olamilekan (Remo Stars)
- Hadi Haruna (Remo Stars)
- Olaniyi Taofik (Rivers United)
- Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars)
- Michael Tochukwu (Remo Stars)
- Alex Oyowah (Remo Stars)
⚽ Forwards:
- Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United)
- Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City)
- Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars)
- Temitope Vincent (Plateau United)
- Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors)
- Godwin Obaje (Rangers International)
- Jabbar Malik (Remo Stars)
As the squad jets off to Zanzibar, expectations remain high that the Super Eagles B will rise to the occasion and mount a serious challenge for the title under Coach Chelle’s leadership. The blend of homegrown skill, tactical discipline, and national pride will be key as Nigeria seeks to return to the podium in this year’s edition of the CHAN tournament.