AFCON 2025: Chelle Faces Squad Deadline, Salary Issues

Eleven days before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations begins in Morocco, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is facing a double challenge: finalising Nigeria’s squad before the CAF deadline and resolving concerns over unpaid salaries.

The tournament will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. Participating teams are permitted to list up to 28 players for the finals. The deadline for submitting final squads is Thursday, December 11, while clubs are expected to release players by Monday, December 15.

The Nigeria Football Federation had already published Chelle’s 54-man provisional list last Tuesday, but the coach is yet to announce his final selection as the cutoff date approaches.

Beyond squad matters, reports emerged on Tuesday that the Franco-Malian coach is owed three months’ salary and bonuses ahead of the tournament. A journalist, Shina Okeleji, stated that Chelle has not filed an official complaint with the NFF despite the outstanding payments.

In response, a senior NFF official confirmed that the situation would be resolved soon, explaining that payment was awaiting cash backing from the finance department. The official also noted that the federation has previously paid the coach in advance and suggested the current situation was being unnecessarily amplified.

Earlier in May, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, disclosed that arrangements had been made for the upfront payment of Chelle’s salary up to October through a presidentially endorsed support group. The goal, he said, was to stabilise Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification campaign and give the NFF time to secure longer-term funding.

Chelle’s tenure has already been tested. Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes ended in disappointment after the Super Eagles lost on penalties to DR Congo in the African play-off final, extending the country’s World Cup absence.

AFCON 2025 will be Chelle’s third major assignment with Nigeria. The Eagles are drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania. The team’s camp will open on Wednesday, December 10, in Egypt, with an unofficial warm-up game against the host nation scheduled for December 16.

Nigeria will begin its group campaign on December 23 against Tanzania in Fès. The headline fixture follows on December 27, when the Eagles face Tunisia, also in Fès. The final group matches will be played on December 31, with Nigeria taking on Uganda.

As runners-up at the last edition, Nigeria will be aiming to reclaim the title and secure a fourth AFCON crown, having previously won the tournament in 1980, 1994 and 2013.