Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been handed a significant setback in his preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a crucial directive from world football's governing body, FIFA.
FIFA's Crucial Date Change Disrupts Camp Plans
The core of the issue stems from FIFA's intervention regarding player availability. The global body has officially moved the mandatory date for clubs to release players for the continental tournament from the previously fixed December 8 to December 15, 2025. This shift leaves a mere six-day window before the tournament's opening ceremony in Morocco.
Coach Eric Chelle, who had his provisional 54-man squad list approved by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had originally planned to commence the team's training camp on December 8. This extended period was intended to rebuild the squad following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A Tight Schedule and Cancelled Plans
The compressed timeline has thrown Chelle's strategy into disarray. A source within the NFF revealed the coach's frustration, noting his complaint during a technical committee meeting about inadequate preparation time costing the team a World Cup ticket. "For the 2025 AFCON, Chelle has only six days to prepare the team for their opening match against Tanzania," the official stated, highlighting how the short camp period undermines plans to integrate fresh talent and phase out aging players.
This development has also likely scuppered a proposed friendly match against the Pharaohs of Egypt. Instead of a preparatory stop in Cairo, the Super Eagles are now expected to fly directly to Morocco for the tournament, which runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
CAF Regulations Add Another Layer
Beyond FIFA's order, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is introducing new regulations for the tournament. Key among them is the requirement for all participating nations to submit their final squad lists at least ten days before the kick-off. CAF has set the submission deadline for December 11, 2025, after which the NFF will trim its provisional list to a final 28-man squad.
An additional CAF rule proposes that only 18 players from each squad will be permitted to travel between cities for matches via plane, road, or train, adding another logistical consideration for team management.
Nigeria, drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda, will be aiming to win its fourth AFCON title under these challenging new circumstances. The situation is further complicated by the earlier reported removal of William Troost-Ekong as team captain, as the defender focuses on club duties.
