Super Eagles AFCON 2025 absentees flop for their clubs - Naija Stars Abroad

While the Super Eagles are settling into Morocco preparing for their Group C opener against Tanzania on Tuesday, several high-profile Naija Stars Abroad who missed out on the final squad were in action for their clubs this past weekend. And honestly? It wasn't pretty.

This is the worst-case scenario for players who were overlooked or sidelined through injury. Instead of proving a point for their clubs, they're getting benched, playing poorly, or watching from the sidelines while their Super Eagles teammates are in Morocco chasing glory, and the contrast couldn't be more brutal.

Here's how the AFCON absentees fared:

Several stars missed club action this weekend as they continue nursing the injuries that kept them out of the tournament.

Talk about adding insult to injury. After being dropped from the final squad, Boniface missed Werder Bremen's final two games of 2025 due to a knee injury. 

The Nigerian striker is still struggling to find his feet at the Bundesliga club, since his loan move from Bayer Leverkusen, and his absence did little to help his case.

He's yet to score in 11 appearances for Bremen this season, making it a rough spell all around for the former Bayer Leverkusen star.

The young defender, whose AFCON dreams were cut short by a knee injury in early December, stayed inactive for Dender's match against Standard Liège on Saturday. Still working his way back.

Iheanacho was a late scratch from Celtic's squad this weekend due to a hamstring tweak picked up in the previous match. 

Form and fitness have conspired against the striker, and he's now dealing with both issues simultaneously.

For those who were fit but simply didn't make Coach Eric Chelle's final 28-man cut, the weekend provided a chance to send a message. Here's how they responded:

After his surprise exclusion, Arokodare did manage to become the first Nigerian to score a Premier League goal for Wolves in their match against Arsenal. 

The 24-year-old came off the bench and powered home a header in the 90th minute. But here's the thing: Wolves remain bottom of the table after another poor outing and loss at home to Brentford. 

Arokodare, who was limited to just nine minutes against the Bees, has struggled for consistent starts which likely influenced his AFCON omission in the first place.

Uche earned some minutes off the bench for Crystal Palace, showing glimpses of the ball-carrying ability that turned heads in Spain in a big defeat at Leeds United. 

But he remains a fringe player under his current management, which was the main reason for his AFCON snub. Still waiting for his breakthrough moment in the Premier League.

Oh boy, where do we start with this one?

Despite his strong form in Serie A recently, Okoye was left out in favour of Francis Uzoho. But the goalkeeper's weekend was defined by a massive disaster that has Nigerian fans talking.

Okoye was sent off in the eighth minute against Fiorentina after rushing out of his penalty area and clattering into Moise Kean, who was clean through on goal. The referee showed him a straight red card without hesitation.

• The Aftermath:

With Okoye gone, Udinese collapsed, eventually losing 5-1. To make matters worse, it was Fiorentina's first league win of the season after 15 straight winless matches. Yes, you read that right. The team that couldn't buy a win all season finally got one because Okoye gifted them a numerical advantage eight minutes in.

Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad)

Sadiq was an unused substitute for Real Sociedad in LaLiga against Levante. He continues to struggle for consistent starts in La Liga, which ultimately cost him his place in Morocco. Another weekend, another no show, another ghost mode.

Look, it's tough to watch. These players either wanted to be in Morocco or were counting on making the squad before injuries struck. Instead, they're dealing with red cards, poor form, injuries, and watching from the bench while their national teammates chase continental glory.

The Super Eagles, meanwhile, will open their campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday at 6:30pm Nigerian time at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco. 

Nigeria finished runners-up at the last AFCON and are seeking their fourth continental crown after previous triumphs in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

For the absentees? They can only watch from afar and hope their club form picks up before it's too late to force their way back into the national team conversation. 

Right now though, most of them are making Coach Chelle's selection decisions look pretty smart.