After much tension, thrill, and excitement, the Super Eagles will be at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, making it their 21st appearance in the competition since their first outing in 1963.
It was nice that Augustine Eguavoen’s men sealed their fate with a game to spare, meaning they could approach their final qualifying fixture in a more relaxed mood.
FT in Abidjan. Benin 1–1 Nigeria| See you in Morocco and thank you all for your support #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/kdm75RfX7X
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 14, 2024
Part of the relaxed expectation saw Eguavoen make several alterations to the starting XI against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina and Stanley Nwabali withdrawing from the team.
Things, however, did not end well for Nigeria as the Amavubi won 2-1 and narrowly missed out on qualification for their second-ever AFCON appearance, having tasted the continental showpiece for the first time in 2004, had Libya managed to beat Benin in the other Group D game.
The result in Uyo did not sit down well with passionate fans as it ended the chance to go the entire qualifiers unbeaten, with many calling into question Eguavoen’s tactics, while some questioned the effectiveness of Victor Boniface, who is yet to register his first international goal with 11 Super Eagles caps under his belt.
Meanwhile, others took aim at goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who was returning to the Nigeria starting lineup for the first time since the fallout at AFCON 2021 in Cameroon two years ago.
We are disappointed to have ended our great run in the Afcon 2025 qualifiers with a home loss. We will bounce back. Thank you for all your support through the qualifiers and see you in Morocxo. #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/XkAGqwTNr9
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 18, 2024
One thing, however, that raises serious questions is the effectiveness of the Super Eagles squad depth, as it has become a common occurrence to see the team struggle when its biggest names are not available.
As mentioned earlier, Lookman, Aina, and Nwabali withdrew from the squad due to fitness and personal issues, while the likes of Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi all started from the bench.
During the disappointing results against Benin and South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June, the likes of Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and Aina, three players that were vital in the Super Eagles’ run to the AFCON 2023 final in the Ivory Coast, were out due to injury.
The team under Finidi George’s watch struggled to get a win against the Cheetahs and Bafana Bafana, leaving their qualification hopes in a very dicey situation except they start winning, which ironically will be away at Rwanda next.
Nigeria boasts of talented options in all positions, the attack being the most obvious with immense quality, including names who do not earn regular call-ups.
The forward line is arguably the best on the continent, with options ranging from reigning African Footballer of the Year Osimhen, Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Chidera Ejuke, Umar Sadiq, and Terem Moffi to Lookman, who is the frontrunner to dethrone Osimhen for the continental awards.
The midfield is not lacking either, as evidenced by the qualities of Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, and Alhassan Yusuf, four players doing well for their respective clubs, with the latter two representing another key cog during the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2023 run.
The defense is not different with England-born Gabriel Osho making his competitive bow in the final two AFCON qualifiers, which has added to the qualities of established stars like Troost-Ekong, Aina, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi (who was not named in this squad), Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins.
Other notable defensive options that have been in the mix in recent times include Crawley Town’s Benjamin Taminu and FC Porto fullback Zaidu Sanusi, who has not featured since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in February. Not forgetting the duo of Ismailia Sodiq and Kenneth Igboke, who both ply their trades in Nigeria and were called-up during the World Cup qualifiers.
The goalkeeping department is not lacking either, with Nwabali, Okoye, Obasogie and a number of NPFL goalkeepers, notably Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo, have been regular backup options.
Our pipu we no say Una dey vex, we understand. Make Una no look us less less, we no go fall Una hand. We go work hard to continue where we for stop for the last Afcon. Abeg make Una no taya to support us o. We thank Una, Una too much. When I say, Super, You say Eagles.… pic.twitter.com/MqwXpwNdVW
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 19, 2024
This shows that the Super Eagles have what it takes to tackle any opponent with the pool of talent certain to continually expand and improve.
Perhaps the issue is a lack of synergy in the team, which means when backup options are called upon, they struggle to assert their presence.
The onus is therefore on the coaching crew to create an identity that will be cut across all the players so that when one or two key players are unavailable, it will not be a colossal loss.
Failure to do this and the Super Eagles could be in for a torrid run in the remainder of the World Cup qualifiers next year and the AFCON 2025 finals.
