Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medallists Tijani Babangida and Victor Ikpeba say the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is a crucial chance for the Super Eagles to repair Nigeria’s football image after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They noted that missing the World Cup for a second straight time still hurts players, officials and fans, making AFCON the key opportunity to restore national pride.
Babangida told Tribalfootball he was disappointed with the Super Eagles’ display in the playoff defeat to DR Congo, saying the Congolese looked better organised and more determined on the day. He believes winning AFCON would help heal the emotional wounds of supporters who were left devastated by that loss.
He is confident Nigeria can reach the final and possibly end their 12 year wait for a fourth continental crown. However, he warned that coach Eric Chelle must build a more balanced side and avoid putting too much responsibility on Victor Osimhen, pointing out that the team struggled once the striker was substituted against Congo.
Babangida urged the technical crew to promote collective responsibility, insisting the Super Eagles should not fall apart if Osimhen is absent. He also admitted that Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia and DR Congo will be strong contenders, while praising Morocco’s development across different age grades.
Ikpeba on his part believes reaching at least the semi finals in Morocco is a realistic target for Nigeria. The 1997 CAF Player of the Year told SCORENigeria that the Super Eagles are not clear favourites for the title, so expectations should be managed even as fans dream of success.
He said African football can be very humbling, citing Nigeria’s failure to reach the World Cup and recalling how Morocco were tipped to win AFCON 2023 after their 2022 World Cup semi final run but fell short. Despite these reminders, both legends maintain that Nigeria remain a threat at any AFCON, especially when underestimated.
Babangida also expressed optimism that the team can still perform strongly despite the absence of injured young defender Benjamin Fredrick. He believes the Super Eagles have enough quality to rise to the occasion and mount a serious challenge for the trophy in Morocco.
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