Ndidi Leads Super Eagles as Nigeria Targets Redemption at AFCON 2025 After World Cup Miss

Nigeria’s arrival in Fés on Thursday evening, aboard a chartered flight from their final training camp in Cairo, marked the beginning of a determined quest for a fourth continental title as the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals kick off in the Kingdom of Morocco on Sunday.

The Super Eagles, champions in 1980 on home soil, in Tunisia in 1994, and in South Africa in 2013, will open their campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on Tuesday in the historic city of Fés.

The team carries the added motivation of appeasing their passionate supporters at home and abroad, still smarting from the disappointment of missing out on qualification for next year’s FIFA World Cup finals.

The retirement of William Troost-Ekong, announced just before the squad’s departure to Cairo, has paved the way for midfield powerhouse Wilfred Ndidi to assume the captain’s armband. He will be supported by experienced figures such as Simon Moses and Alex Iwobi, while prolific forward Victor Osimhen is also expected to play a leadership role.

Sunday’s much-anticipated opening ceremony at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat will feature Nigeria’s internationally celebrated singer Davido. The festivities will precede the opening match between hosts Morocco and Comoros, with the Atlas Lions eager to extend their remarkable run of success in global football.

Nigeria’s first AFCON triumph came 45 years ago, also against Tanzania in their opening fixture, and the Eagles will be keen to replicate that winning start. Victory would set the tone ahead of tougher group encounters against Tunisia on Saturday, 27 December, and Uganda on Tuesday, 30 December.

Coach Eric Chelle captured the weight of expectation when he told CAFOnline.com last month: “When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything.” His words reflect the pressure to deliver, especially in the aftermath of the World Cup miss.

Tanzania, guided by Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, himself a 1994 AFCON winner, qualified for the 2019 finals in Egypt under his stewardship. Morocco 2025 marks their fourth appearance overall and second consecutive outing after competing in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Taifa Stars have played nine matches in the competition, drawing three and losing six, still searching for their first victory.

Tunisia, meanwhile, boast 21 previous appearances—one more than Nigeria—and have built a reputation for consistency, with Morocco 2025 marking their 17th consecutive participation. Their sole triumph came on home soil in 2004, when they edged Morocco in a tense final in Rades.

Across 83 AFCON matches, the Carthage Eagles have recorded 25 wins, 28 losses, and 30 draws. Their history with Nigeria is rich: a 2-4 defeat to the co-hosts in 2000, a 1-0 loss in the third-place match in Egypt in 2019, and the infamous 1978 third-place clash in Ghana, awarded to Nigeria after Tunisia walked off following Baba Otu Mohammed’s goal.

More recently, Tunisia eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16 in Cameroon four years ago.

Uganda’s Cranes have also proven stubborn opponents for Nigeria. In the 1978 semi-finals in Ghana, Philip Omondi scored twice to knock out the Eagles, and since then, Nigeria has often struggled against them despite fielding star-studded squads.

Their upcoming clash in Fés on Tuesday, 30 December, promises to be another intriguing battle. Uganda enters their eighth AFCON finals, having missed the last two editions in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire.

They have played 23 matches, winning four, drawing three, and losing 16. Their best achievement remains the runner-up finish in Ghana in 1978, when they fell to Opoku Afriye’s Black Stars in Accra.

Overall, Nigeria’s record of 104 matches across 20 previous AFCON appearances suggests they have the pedigree to navigate the group stage successfully in Fés before tackling the knockout rounds in Morocco.