With Nigeria still reeling from their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after crashing out in the playoff finals against DR Congo , attention has now fully shifted to the upcoming 2026 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles-three-time African champions will hope to rebuild confidence as they push for a fourth continental title.
Softfootball understands that expectations remain high, with many Nigerians banking on Victor Osimhen, recently nominated for the African Footballer of the Year , to lead the line. The forward is expected to spearhead the country's attack once again after narrowly missing out on AFCON glory to Cote d'Ivoire last time out.
The announcement of the 55-man preliminary list through the team's official X account immediately sparked intense reactions online, with fans heavily divided over the selections. They posted:
