Nigeria and Tunisia are considered strong contenders, with the east African sides competing for third place and a spot in the round of 16.
Victor Osimhen, the 2023 African player of the year, and Ademola Lookman, the 2024 winner, are part of the squad. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was voted the top player in 2024.
Nigeria's coach, Eric Chelle, has selected a balanced team with nine forwards, three goalkeepers, eight defenders, and eight midfielders.
However, Victor Boniface and Tolu Arokodare were not included in the squad. Boniface plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, and Arokodare recently signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The team boasts talent from several Premier League clubs, including Fulham, with Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze on the roster. Chukwueze, who is on loan from AC Milan, scored twice in a recent match against Manchester City.
The squad also includes injured goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who plays for Chippa United in the South African Premiership.
Nigeria has a rich history in the AFCON, having won the title three times, most recently in 2013. They were runners-up to Ivory Coast in the 2024 tournament.
The team will face Egypt in a warm-up match in Cairo on December 16 before traveling to Fes, Morocco, where they will play their first-round matches.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd/RSA), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars/TAN), Francis Uzoho (Omonia/CYP)
Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham/ENG), Semi Ajayi (Hull City/ENG), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City/ENG), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos/GRE), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes/FRA), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto/POR), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague/CZE), Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers/ENG)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham/ENG), Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas/TUR), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge/BEL), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem/BEL), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio/ITA), Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa/ITA), Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias/ISR)
Forwards: Chidera Ejuke, Akor Adams (both Sevilla/ESP), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/ITA), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham/ENG), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray/TUR), Moses Simon (Paris FC/FRA), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor/TUR), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos/GRE), Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961/CRO)
