FEZ, MOROCCO – While Uganda mourns an early exit from AFCON 2025, the Nigerian camp is celebrating a historic milestone. With their 3-1 victory over the Cranes on Tuesday night, the Super Eagles became the first team in the tournament to finish the group stages with a 100% record (9 points from 3 games).
“I Have a Lot of Choices”
Speaking at the post-match press conference in Fez, Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle praised the depth of his squad. Chelle had made eight changes to his starting lineup, resting stars like Stanley Nwabali and Frank Onyeka, yet the “second string” side still dominated the Cranes.
“The group gave a good answer today. Players who did not start the previous games showed something special,” Chelle said. “Now I have a little pain in my head because I have to make difficult choices. Everybody in this team can play, and for a coach, that is a perfect problem to have.”
Focus on the Final
Despite the comfortable win, Chelle was quick to dismiss any signs of complacency as Nigeria prepares for a Round of 16 clash against either Ivory Coast, Cameroon, or Mozambique.
“I am happy about the victory, but we have to improve again. If we want to be ambitious and reach the final, we cannot stay at this level. We must get better,” he added.
“We Are Winning This AFCON”
The mood among the players is equally sky-high. Midfielder Raphael Onyedika, who was named Man of the Match after netting a brilliant brace, credited the team’s chemistry.
“The coach told us to enjoy the game but stay professional. We have a mission to bring this trophy back to Lagos, and we are on the right track,” Onyedika told reporters.
Social media has been flooded with “We are winning AFCON” hashtags from Nigerian fans, who are drawing comparisons between this 2025 squad and the legendary 2013 title-winning team.
Even Uganda’s coach, Paul Put, conceded after the game that Nigeria has the quality to go all the way to the final.
