Former Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has challenged the Super Eagles to make the most of what he describes as a rare opportunity, warning that failure to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations would be a major disappointment for a squad rich in talent, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, have reached the quarter-finals in Morocco and will face Algeria on Saturday, buoyed by a run of convincing performances led by their star forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
Onazi, who was part of the team that lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2013, believes the current group has both the quality and the momentum to go all the way and should not allow anything derail them.
Onazi’s message to Nigeria’s Super Eagles
“This generation of Super Eagles need to win the AFCON title for themselves,” he told PUNCH Sports Extra. “It will be a bit shameful for players of this calibre in the squad to not touch the AFCON trophy.”
Nigeria’s attacking strength has been one of the stories of the tournament so far. Lookman has been directly involved in seven goals in three matches, scoring three times and providing four assists, while Osimhen has added three goals and one assist in four appearances. Their form has powered Nigeria into the last eight and reinforced their status as one of the favourites for the title.
Onazi said success at the Africa Cup of Nations can be a defining moment in a player’s career and urged the squad to keep their focus firmly on the prize.
“When you win the AFCON, it gives you an edge in your career. It is one of the biggest trophies in the world,” he said. “It is good for the players and good for the country.”
The former Lazio man’s comments come at a time when Nigeria are working to put recent off-field distractions behind them.
Earlier this week, tensions in the camp led to a threatened boycott and the cancellation of a training session, raising concerns about the team’s preparations for the knockout phase.
Those issues have now been resolved, and the Nigerian delegation departed Fez on Thursday for Marrakech, where the quarter-final will be played.
Team officials say normal activities have resumed, with the squad expected to settle into their base and return to full training as preparations intensify for the clash with Algeria.