Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina has been left out of Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Aina is Nigeria’s first-choice right-back but is recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in September’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa which required surgery.
It is a huge blow for Nigeria that Aina will not be fit enough for the tournament as Benjamin Fredrick, who is on loan at Belgian side Dender from Brentford, is unavailable with a knee injury while captain William Troost-Ekong retired from international duty last week.
This leaves them short on experienced options at the back, and head coach Eric Chelle has selected Blackburn Rovers’ defender Ryan Alebiosu for the first time.
Alebiosu, 23, is one of five first-time call-ups in Nigeria’s 28-player squad, alongside midfielders Usman Muhammed, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Tochukwu Nnadi and forward Salim Fago Lawal.
Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare was part of the squad which lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo in last month’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) World Cup play-off final but has not been selected by Chelle for AFCON.
Cyriel Dessers and Paul Onuachu have been recalled as alternative options to Victor Osimhen.
The other surprising omission is Maduka Okoye. The 26-year-old appeared to be established as the second-choice goalkeeper behind Stanley Nwabali. He has earned 18 caps and was part of their squad in the November international break. Okoye has made eight appearances for Udinese this season, including Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Genoa.
Nigeria reached the final of AFCON 2023 but they lost to the host nation Ivory Coast. Last month, they failed to qualify for a second successive World Cup after losing to DR Congo in a penalty shootout. Nigeria’s opening game at this year’s AFCON is against Tanzania on December 23.
Nigeria AFCON squad in full
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United,), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC).
Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague), Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: 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: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Simon Moses (Paris FC), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Akor Adams (Sevilla), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos), Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961).
