Squad depth tested - Can Nigeria avoid fatigue during back‑to‑back AFCON matches?

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Squad depth tested - Can Nigeria avoid fatigue during back‑to‑back AFCON matches?
Nigeria might have a clear road to the AFCON knockout stages as Group C favourites. However, fatigue from playing back-to-back tournament games threatens the Super Eagles' performances. We already witnessed how tired legs impacted Nigeria’s squad in their bitter elimination against DR Congo in the World Cup playoffs final. Eric Chelle travels to Morocco with 28 men, but will that squad depth be enough to survive a grueling AFCON schedule?

How Fatigue Can Affect Nigeria in the 2025 AFCON

After failing to secure a direct qualification spot in Group C of the CAF FIFA World Cup, Nigeria had to play two extra games in the space of three days. The Super Eagles struggled with a 1-1 90-minute draw against Gabon in the semi-final of the qualifier, before emerging with a 4-1 win. However, those extra minutes came to bite the three-time AFCON winners in the final against DR Congo.

By the 57th minute, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze were all taken off due to fatigue, leaving the Super Eagles without their three sharpest attackers. Those substitutions eventually cost Nigeria the game, as they failed to significantly disturb the DR Congo backline up until the end of the 120 minutes.

While the Super Eagles arrive with fresher legs in the 2025 AFCON, the schedule once again threatens Nigeria’s performances. AFCON action will begin for Nigeria on the 23rd, and within the next seven days, the nation will have played three tough games against Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. How this will affect the Super Eagles’ AFCON chances is something you can find out from SportyTrader experts in our AFCON 2025 prediction and betting tips.

Will Nigeria’s 28-Man Squad Be Enough?

Eric Chelle named 28 men for his AFCON squad, which is four more than his lineup for the WC qualifier games in November. The squad for Morocco includes one more attacker, but more interestingly, features three more midfielders, which is an area Nigeria notoriously has problems, specifically in the creativity department.

This extra depth in the middle of the park could see Eric Chelle utilize his 4-4-2 diamond shape even more during the AFCON. In his interview with Onzemondial, Chelle said, “I like to play with two strikers, have numerical superiority in midfield. With extra men to rotate over the group stages, and possibly the knockouts, Chelle might finally have the squad depth to execute his plans.

What's more, this formation, which relies on only two forwards, could also see his attacker get more rest over the group stage and ahead of an even more demanding knockout phase.

AFCON 2025 Nigeria squad

  • Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd), Amas Obasogie(Singida Black Stars), Francis Uzoho(Omonia)
  • Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers)
  • Midfield: Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa), Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias)
  • Forwards: Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Akor Adams (Sevilla), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Moses Simon (Paris FC), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos), Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961).