Under the new rule, teams may register up to 27 players for the tournament. However, CAF will only cover the expenses—travel, accommodation, and competition logistics—for 23 of those players. The additional four players will be funded by their respective football federations.
CAF said the adjustment is aimed at helping coaches navigate injuries, suspensions, and tactical demands during what is expected to be a tightly packed tournament calendar.
Nigeria is scheduled to compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, beginning their campaign on December 23, 2025, against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès, Morocco. Tunisia will face Uganda the same day at the Stade Annexe of Prince Moulay in Rabat. The group’s most anticipated clash comes on December 27, when Nigeria meets Tunisia, while Uganda takes on Tanzania. The final round of group matches will be played simultaneously on December 31, with Nigeria facing Uganda and Tunisia playing Tanzania.
Ahead of the tournament, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to release a provisional squad in the coming days. The Super Eagles’ official X handle hinted at the announcement on Tuesday, tweeting: “Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations preliminary squad announcement coming up.”
Reports indicate that head coach Eric Chelle has already submitted a 55-man preliminary squad to the NFF. The list will eventually be trimmed, with several new faces likely to be included in the pre-AFCON training camp. The camp is set to open on Monday, December 8, and will feature a series of warm-up friendlies before the team departs for Morocco.
Other nations are also finalizing their squads. South Africa, for instance, released a 54-man provisional list on Monday.
The Super Eagles enter the tournament seeking a fourth AFCON title, having finished as runners-up in the previous edition after losing 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast. Nigeria previously claimed the continental trophy in 1980, 1994, and 2013, and will be hoping to add to that tally under Chelle’s guidance.