The Super Eagles, still recovering from missing out on the FIFA World Cup, will be looking to redeem themselves by winning their fourth African title.

To accomplish this, coach Eric Chelle has called up a broad selection of players, including Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen, captain William Troost-Ekong, and Fulham’s trio ofAlex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze who have all been included.

Returning to the squad are former Leicester City standout Kelechi Iheanacho, Cyriel Dessers, Paul Onuachu, and Igoh Ogbu, who plays for Czech club Slavia Prague.

Ex-Arsenal academy player Ryan Alebiosu, LASK defender Emmanuel Michael, and Viktoria Plzen’s Rafiu Durosinmi are all hoping to secure a spot in the star-packed squad.

Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United), Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves), Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes),Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors) and Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos) are the only players from the Nigeria Professional Football League included in the list.

The Super Eagles, who finished as runners-up in the previous tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire, must face former African champions Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in Group C.

Chelle’s squad will start their campaign for a fourth African crown against the Taifa Stars on December 23rd at Fez Stadium in Fez.

Nigeria’s preliminary squad

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese, Italy); Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC, Greece); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos);

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors);

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England); Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa, Italy); Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel); Peter Agba (Maccabi Haifa, Israel); Tom Dele-Bashiru (Gençlerbirligi SK, Turkey)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolves, England); Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic, Scotland); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen, Germany); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos, Greece); Abdulrasheed Shehu (Niger Tornadoes); Rafiu Durosinmi (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic); Ekeson Okorie (Nasarawa United); Chisom Orji (Warri Wolves); Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (OH Leuven, Belgium); Philip Otele (Basel, Switzerland); Salim Fago Lawal (NK Istra 1961, Croatia); Emmanuel Michael (Linzer Athletik SK, Austria)