Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has submitted an expanded 55-man provisional list for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Soccernet.ng reports.

The move signals the first major step in Nigeria’s build-up to next month’s tournament in Morocco.

Still smarting from missing out on the Intercontinental playoff for a World Cup spot, Eric Chelle has turned swiftly toward preparations for AFCON, where expectations remain high following Nigeria’s run to the final in Cote d’Ivoire last year.

Team insiders confirmed that the training camp will open on December 8 in Morocco, though the squad will be significantly trimmed before that date. The tournament kicks off on December 21st and will run through to January 18th, 2026.

Chelle is expected to reduce the 55-man pool to between 24 and 27 players, depending on guidelines set by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and new CAF regulations.

While most of the provisional picks are familiar names who have worked with Chelle since his appointment, a handful of relatively unknown players have also been included.

According to sources, these lesser-known talents have been quietly monitored for months and are viewed as long-term prospects for the national team structure.

Chelle’s mandate remains to go one better than the last AFCON, where Nigeria narrowly missed out on a fourth continental title after falling to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

The Franco-Malian coach has repeatedly emphasised the need for depth, tactical versatility, and psychological resilience; qualities he hopes the expanded preliminary list will help identify.

The Confederation of African Football has reportedly decided on a revised squad regulation that will influence how teams, including Nigeria, approach AFCON 2025.

Under the updated rule, national teams may now register up to 27 players for major tournaments. However, CAF will only sponsor costs for 23 players, including travel, accommodation, and competition logistics.

The remaining four slots are optional and must be fully funded by each federation, giving teams the flexibility to expand their squads but also forcing them to weigh financial considerations.

The adjustment is designed by CAF to help coaches better manage injuries, suspensions, and tactical demands across a congested tournament calendar. The update also encourages federations to balance ambition with budget discipline.

With Nigeria still chasing its first AFCON title since 2013 – and only its fourth ever after victories in 1980, 1994 and 2013 – the spotlight now shifts to Chelle’s ability to assemble a squad capable of ending a 12-year drought.