Eleven days to the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is at the centre of an intense situation with the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid salaries, just as he is yet to unveil his final squad for the tournament, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 2025 AFCON will be played from December 21 to January 18, 2026, in Morocco and Nigeria, and the 23 other sides are allowed to select up to 28 players for the 2025 finals.

The deadline for naming squads is Thursday, December 11, and the mandatory release date for clubs to make players available is Monday, December 15.

The Nigeria Football Federation published Chelle’s 54-man provisional list last Tuesday, and ahead of Thursday’s deadline by the Confederation of African Football.

However, it appears the final squad is not the only pressing issue on the coach’s desk, as reports surfaced on Tuesday that the Franco-Malian is owed three months salary.

“Nigeria coach Eric Chelle is owed three months salary and bonuses ahead of the AFCON,” journalist Shina Okeleji posted via X on Tuesday.

“The Malian, who led the Eagles to 2026 World Cup play-off, has, however, yet to make an official complaint to his employers (the NFF) about the non-payment of his salary.”

In response to the allegations, a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed to The PUNCH that the coach would be paid soon.

“Eric came to see us, and we explained the processes. His money will be paid. We have paid him even ahead before, and this time, we are waiting for cash backing from finance. The money on paper has been paid, and the coach is aware,” the source said.

“When they paid him two months ahead, all these were not glorified, and we don’t need this now,” he added.

In May, Chairman of the National Sports Commission Shehu Dikko revealed that the commission made provisions for the upfront payment of Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle’s salary until October through a presidentially endorsed support group as part of efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

“We worked with the Nigeria Football Federation to appoint the coach, and although the NFF signed his contract, we, through the support group, decided to cover his salary until October. This will give the NFF space to secure long-term funding and sponsorship,” Dikko said in an interview with former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami on Eagle 7 Sports Radio 103.7 FM.

Chelle, who was appointed in January by the NFF concluded Nigeria’s ill-fated 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

After sneaking into the African play-off, the Super Eagles lost on penalties to DR Congo in the final, marking an unfortunate back-to-back World Cup misses for Nigeria.

AFCON 2025 will be Chelle’s third major assignment with Nigeria, and the Super Eagles will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.

The Eagles’ camp is scheduled to open on Wednesday, December 10, in Egypt with an unofficial pre-tournament friendly also booked with the Pharaohs for December 16.

The Super Eagles begin their campaign on December 23, 2025, against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès, while Tunisia face Uganda the same day at the Stade Annexe of Prince Moulay in Rabat.

The biggest game in the group comes on December 27, when Nigeria take on Tunisia in Fès, as Uganda and Tanzania square off in Rabat.

The final round of Group C matches will be played simultaneously on December 31, with Uganda facing Nigeria in Fès and Tunisia meeting Tanzania in Rabat.

Nigeria, runners-up at the last AFCON after losing 2–1 to hosts Ivory Coast, are seeking a fourth continental title. The Super Eagles previously won the competition in 1980, 1994 and 2013.

UCL: Mbappé doubtful for Manchester City clash after missing training

Gilbert Ekugbe

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé did not take part in training with the squad, raising doubts over his availability for the crucial Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Tuesday, Romano said, “Kylian Mbappé didn’t train with the Real Madrid squad, and he’s a doubt to face Manchester City.”

The French striker’s absence will spark concern among fans and analysts, given his key role in Madrid’s attack.

Although the club has not yet provided details on whether the issue is injury-related or precautionary.

Mbappe has been in fine form in front for Real Madrid, scoring 16 league goals and nine goals in the current 2025–26 UEFA Champions League campaign.

The Los Blancos were stunned at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday as Celta Vigo secured a 2–0 victory, handing Real Madrid their first home defeat of the season and their first loss to Celta in Madrid in 19 years.

PUNCH Online had reported that Real Madrid will desperately need superstar Kylian Mbappe at his magical best on Wednesday in a pivotal Champions League clash against Manchester City and unstoppable striker Erling Haaland.

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Morocco have home advantage, a team that has won a world record 18 consecutive internationals and an inspirational captain in Achraf Hakimi as they seek 2025 Africa Cup of Nations glory.

Expectations are high in the kingdom that the Atlas Lions can lift the most prized football trophy in the continent for only the second time on January 18 — 50 years after last doing so.

But resilient title holders, the Ivory Coast, Mohamed Salah-captained Egypt, Victor Osimhen-inspired Nigeria and Sadio Mane-led Senegal are some of the challengers capable of spoiling the Moroccan dream.

AFP Sport looks at the premier African sports event, from its humble debut in 1957 to a 2025 tournament set to draw huge global TV audiences from the first match on December 21.

Background

Only hosts Sudan, champions Egypt and Ethiopia took part in the 1957 AFCON after South Africa were disqualified for wanting to field either an all-white or all-black team. As time passed, so did the number of qualifiers expand. It was six by 1963, eight five years later, 12 in 1992, then 16 four years on, and Egypt hosted the first 24-team event in 2019.

Giants

Egypt (seven titles), Cameroon (five), Ghana (four), Ivory Coast and Nigeria (three each) have dominated the AFCON, winning 22 of the 34 tournaments between them. Stars like goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, centre-back Wael Gomaa and midfielders Mohamed Aboutreika and Mohamed Barakat helped Egypt win a record three consecutive finals between 2006 and 2010.

Absentees

Ghana and Cape Verde, both 2026 World Cup qualifiers, will be the most notable absentees from the AFCON in Morocco after disastrous qualifying campaigns. Cape Verde managed only one victory in six matches and four-time champions Ghana fared even worse — drawing three matches and losing the other three.

Favourites

Morocco will be the team to beat as they seek to end a string of disappointing campaigns. Favoured to succeed in the Ivory Coast last year, they made a last-16 exit, falling 2-0 to South Africa. Among the challengers, Nigeria and Cameroon are hurting after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Egypt have gone 15 years since last conquering Africa, and Senegal seek redemption after a poor 2024 campaign.

Dark horses

Of the 12 contenders who have not won the AFCON, Mali stand out as a team capable of going all the way after being unlucky quarter-final losers to Ivory Coast last year. “We respect everyone, but fear no one. Our ambition is to stay in this competition until the very end,” says Tom Saintfiet, the Belgian coach of the Eagles.

Stars

Morocco coach Walid Regragui is optimistic that captain and defender Hakimi will recover from a sprained ankle, saying “we hope he will be available for our first match against the Comoros”. Of the 10 stars short-listed for the 2025 African player of the year award won by Hakimi, eight are likely to be in Morocco. Cameroon midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is injured and Serhou Guirassy misses out as Guinea did not qualify.

Build-up

A FIFA decision to change the release date of Africans with European clubs from December 8 to 15 upset many coaches as preparations had to be drastically altered. “FIFA only needs Africa during elections, but it does not value our competitions like AFCON or give them the recognition they deserve,” said France-born Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle.

Profit

When the 2022 AFCON was won by Senegal in Cameroon, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made a profit of less than $10 million. Fast forward to the 2025 edition in Morocco, and the Cairo-based organisation is predicting a surplus of $110 million thanks to a huge increase in revenue from TV rights.

Support

A problem spanning many AFCONs is poor attendance at matches not involving the host nation. It creates the false impression that there is little interest in the tournament. There was a dramatic improvement at the 2024 edition in Ivory Coast and Moroccan officials hope to lure thousands of their countrymen to stadia for each of the 36 group and 16 knockout matches.

Security

Sharp objects were flung onto the pitch during a recent CAF Champions League match between locals FAR Rabat and Egyptian club Al Ahly, serving a timely warning to Moroccan security officers. Hostility toward visiting teams leading to a barrage of missiles, corrupt officials allowing attendance ceilings to be breached and lax crowd control remain problems in African football.

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