Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is keeping his cards close to his chest over the possibility of handing Africa Cup of Nations debuts to several fringe players when the Super Eagles face Uganda.

The Malian football tactician is expected to make alterations to the starting line-up for Tuesday's encounter against the Cranes, with qualification for the round of 16 already secured following victories over Tanzania and Tunisia.

Of the 28 players named in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, 10 have yet to see action, namely Francis Uzoho, Igoh Ogbu, Cyriel Dessers, Muhammed Usman, Amas Obasogie, Raphael Onyedika, Salim Fago Lawal, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Ryan Alebiosu and Tochukwu Nnadi.

Ahead of Tuesday's clash in Fez, Chelle is monitoring the fitness of Stanley Nwabali and Frank Onyeka, while marquee centre-forward Victor Osimhen was assessed during Monday's final training session after sustaining a knock in the win over Tunisia.

Chelle could be forced to ring the changes as four members of his ideal starting lineup-Osimhen, Nwabali, Ademola Lookman and Semi Ajayi -are a booking away from an automatic one-match ban.

Asked at the pre-match press conference whether supporters should expect to see fresh faces like Alebiosu, Nnadi and Akinsanmiro in the starting lineup, Chelle answered: "Yes or no, maybe, and we will see. We have a last training session, we will prepare for this game tomorrow. 

"We are focused on this game, and after this training session I will take a decision about the team, maybe the system, maybe another philosophy. So, I will think about it after the training session."

Nigeria will top Group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations should they avoid defeat against the Cranes, regardless of the outcome of the meeting between Tunisia and Tanzania.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel