This is African football, a constant battle for bragging rights and a historic cabinet, where we win some and lose others. But the Super Eagles of Nigeria live to fight another day after clinching Silver in their 20th AFCON appearance.
Two Group Stage exits, seven third-place finishes, five-time runners-up, and three-time champions paint the overview of Nigeria’s exploits on the Continental stage at the Africa Cup of Nations since the team’s debut in 1963.
Tagged Africa’s most decorated team based on accolades, the Super Eagles of Nigeria by reputation bag expectations whenever the stage is set, and the 34th edition of AFCON was no different for the African Giants.
Before 2024, the last time Nigeria had a bite at the cherry was over a decade ago in South Africa when the team hustled to victory unbeaten and without any extra time needed. (NB: In football, extra time is different from additional time).
But a rejuvenated Super Eagles side by profile and pedigree, plus the advent of Stanley Nwabali in goal and a tweak in formation helped galvanize the team in going the distance albeit falling feebly to the hosts in the final.
Following proceedings in Côte d’Ivoire, the cup is either half full or half empty based on perspectives, as the team did reach the final against all the odds, but struggled in flexibility, tactical awareness, and finishing when it mattered.
To mention but a few, reigning African Best, Victor Osimhen huffed and puffed with energetic display, getting involved albeit indirectly in most of the goals scored, but missing out on his primary Key Performance Index (KPI) – putting the ball in the back of the net or across the goal line.
In seven games, Victor provided an assist and registered one goal from twenty-four shots with none (goal, assist, or shot) coming in the final.
However, fouls on him created two penalty goals courtesy of Williams Troost-Ekong versus Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, with his presence inadvertently forcing Opa Sangante to an own goal against Guinea-Bissau.
More productivity was expected from the Napoli forward who had contributed twelve goals in eighteen games across Italian competitions this season (probably lesser output than 2022-23) but missed big chances in headers, one-v-ones, and close ranges at the AFCON.
The list goes on in the Chronicles of players that underwhelmed, with the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, Zaidu Sanusi, and a fair extent Alex Iwobi facing the jury.
Still, a flip on the page sees players like Alhassan Yusuf, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Semilogo Ajayi, Williams Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, and the Knight in a shinning armor – Stanley Nwabali, all flattering to impress.
Speaking of the cup half full, Nigeria moved fourteen steps up on the FIFA rankings from 42nd to 28th in the world, while climbing from 6th to 3rd-best on the continent after finishing as runners-up.
Captain Williams Troost-Ekong was awarded Player of the Tournament and made Team of the Tournament alongside Ademola Lookman and Olaoluwa Aina as Nigeria’s representatives.
Also worthy of note is the end to José Peseiro’s contract as Head Coach of the Super Eagles as the curtains closed on the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, plus the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of play, with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers lined up in the coming months.
A double-header against South Africa, Rwanda, and the Benin Republic, plus return fixtures against Lesotho and Zimbabwe stand in the way of Nigeria for two spots from Group C.
“Waka or Stay” as pronounced in local parlance would be the debate on the streets in Naija, and the realization of an imminent exodus of players from the international scene, with the likes of Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa, and probably Semilogo Ajayi as potential retirees.
The jury is still out on the status of the Super Eagles as things stand, with the Silver win a silver lining for subsequent features and fixtures.
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