Behold! 5 Super Eagles unused subs at 2025 AFCON

The Super Eagles’ campaign at the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON)in Morocco ended with five unused players warming the bench throughout the tournament which started on December 21, 2025 and ended on January 18. After their semi-final loss to host Morocco, the Super Eagles returned to beat the Pharaohs of Egypt 4-2 on penalties […]

The Super Eagles’ campaign at the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON)in Morocco ended with five unused players warming the bench throughout the tournament which started on December 21, 2025 and ended on January 18.

After their semi-final loss to host Morocco, the Super Eagles returned to beat the Pharaohs of Egypt 4-2 on penalties for a record extending ninth third place finish.

All the players who made Eric Chelle’s final list of 28-players played at the tournament except Amas Obasogie (GK), Usman Mohammed, Cyril Dessers, Salim Fago Lawal, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, who returned home with bronze medals without kicking the ball.

 

Obasogie

Amas Obasogie (GK)Obasogie was selected as the third-choice goalkeeper in the 28-man list making it impossible for him to get to either start or come in as a substitute ahead the first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali and second-choice Franic Uzoho during the tournament.

Nwabali stood between the sticks in six matches, conceding three goals and making clean sheets during the knock out matches against Mozambique, Algeria and Morocco. He was also instrumental during the third-place match against Egypt, saving Mohammed Salah penalty kick to earn the Super Eagles the victory. 

Uzoho, who was the second choice-goalkeeper kept for 90-minutes in the last group-stage match against Uganda.

Obasogie, a former Bendel Insurance goalkeeper  plies his trade at Singida Black Stars FC in Tanzania. Before he joined the Tanzania based club, he enjoyed a short spell at Fasil Kenema SC in the Ethiopian Premier League in 2024.

 

Usman Mohammed and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro

Mohammed  and Akinsanmiro were selected among the array of seven other midfielders but were unable to play ahead Alex Iwobi, Rapheal Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Captain Wilfried Ndidi who managed midfield during the tournament.

Both players play the same role as central midfielders, making it practically impossible for them to be selected ahead of the more experienced midfielders.Super Eagles players  who dominated the midfield were Alex Iwobi who featured in six matches, playing excellently during the tournament, assisting goals just as Onyedika also impressed with his pass completion in addition to the brace he recorded in the win against Uganda in the group stage. He ended up with four appearances in Morocco

Wilfred Ndidi was exceptional, registering his first international goal during the second-group stage match against Tunisia which ended 3-2 while Dele-Bashiru featured thrice in the tournament, coming off the bench in the group-stage. 

Dele-Bashiru featured in six matches, contributing immensely during the tournament.

Although they didn’t get to play any minute in Morocco, Akinsanmiro and Usman were selected to represent Nigeria at the AFCON due to their exploits in their clubs.

Before Akinsanmiro’s call-up to the national team, he enjoyed a brief spell at Serie A club Pisa on loan, featuring in 12 matches and providing an assist before he returned to his club-Inter Milan during this ongoing January transfer window. 

Prior to his move to Pisa, Akinsanmiro had much playing time at the Serie B club Sampdoria on a season-long loan, featuring in 35 matches and registering a goal.

The central midfielder who made the switch to Europe, signing a permanent deal in a four-year contract with Inter Milan from Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL outfit- Remo Star 2023 has been promising.

During the 2022–23 season, he began playing for the club’s under-19 team before his first call-up to the first team under manager Simone Inzaghi, making his first-team debut for Inter Milan on 25 February 2024, coming on as a substitute for Davide Frattesi in the 76th minute of a 4–0 league victory over Lecce.

He was part of the team that won the ninth Coppa Italia title over Fiorentina.

For Usman, before his surprise call-up to the Super Eagles, he was part of the national U-23 team that won the Olympic bronze medal in the men’s football tournament in Rio 2016 under coach Samson Siasia.

Usman who plies his trade with Israeli Premier League side- IronsiTiberias FC, has played for eight clubs across Portugal, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Israel, leaving mostly as a free agent after he left  a NPFL side Taraba FC in 2016.

 Before he joined Taraba FC, he started his professional career in Nigeria with Kaduna-based club Ranchers Bees. 

 

Salim Fago Lawal 

One of the three northerners in the 2025 AFCON squad, Salim made his Super Eagles debut in the international friendly with Egypt a few days to the kickoff of the continental showpiece in Morocco.

The 21-year-old forward burst onto the scene with NK Istra 1961, scoring five goals in 29 league appearances during the 2024–25 season.

A graduate of Nigeria’s U-20 setup and participant at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Fago is known for his pace, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing, attributes that earned him his first senior call-up.

Unfortunately, he was not given even a minute to play in Morocco due to the presence of the more established strikers like Victor Osimhen, Akor Adams, Paul Onuachu, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.

 

Cyril Dessers

The Panathinaikos player’s no-show in Morocco may not be unconnected to his thigh injury which ruled him out of the tournament. 

It was reported that the medical assessments showed he would be unable to recover in time to play any part in the knockout stages, prompting a decision for him to leave the squad’s base in Morocco and begin rehabilitation with his club.

Dessers who joined the Greek Super League club Panathinaikos September 2025 has featured in six matches, registering two goals.  

So, out of the nine AFCON debutants that the Super Eagles paraded, only Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Akor Adams, Ryan Alebiosu, Tochukwu Nnadi, and Igoh Ogbu, featured for the bronze winning squad in Morocco.