The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been flying really high at AFCON 2025, and by progressing to the quarterfinals, Nigerians are really thinking, Can we do it again?
Can Nigeria do it again? Can the Super Eagles of Nigeria win their fourth AFCON title after coming close multiple times? All the signs are pointing that they might be on the course to do so.
Coming into this AFCON, expectations weren’t really high from many Nigerians. The Super Eagles were beaten by Ivory Coast in the finals of the last AFCON, and their underwhelming performances in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers saw them miss out on a trip to America, hence the mixed feelings from Nigerians.
But since AFCON 2025 began, the group has played like they have something to prove. Without their captain, Troost Ekong, who retired weeks before the tournament, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have shown guile, strength, and character.
In their first game, they calmly dispatched Tanzania before giving Tunisia a heavy beating, although the game ended 3-2 with the Super Eagles almost blowing the game away. In the final group game against Uganda, the Super Eagles once again showed their class, scoring another three goals to secure their place in the knockout stages.
In the round of 16, the Super Eagles of Nigeria faced Mozambique, who finished as best losers, and just like they showed throughout the tournament, where they have dispatched teams they should be beating, the Super Eagles beat Mozambique 4-0.
So far, the Super Eagles are playing as they should. They have found a balance in the formation, and they are ripping through teams. Eric Chelle, the head coach, was named coach of the group stage, while Lookman was named in the team of the group stage.
The goal and assists tally from the team make them one of the highest scoring and performing teams at AFCON 2025. Their top scorers are Lookman and Osimhen with three goals each; only Brahim Diaz of Morocco has scored more (4). In terms of assists, the team has shared the numbers across board with Lookman on 4 assists, Iwobi and Lookman on two, while Chukwueze and Akor Adams make up the rest.
The team seems to have hit a new ceiling, and honestly, they can go all the way, but it doesn’t go without saying that they have met and beaten teams they should beat. The only team that could’ve given them tough time is Tunisia, and they won that game.
The real work now starts in the quarterfinals, where they would face either Algeria or DR Congo. The Super Eagles have a history with both teams. Algeria knocked out the Super Eagles from a previous AFCON tournament through a sublime Riyad Mahrez freekick, while DR Congo beat Nigeria to seal the African playoff spot for the World Cup.
These losses are still fresh in the minds of many Nigerians, and the Super Eagles need to take revenge and show that they actually mean business. Winning either of these teams could set up a meeting with Morocco in the semi-finals should the host qualify as well.
As earlier said, the Super Eagles can go all the way but the real work begins in the quarterfinals, and for many who haven’t believed in this team so far, maybe they will believe after the quarterfinals.
