Legendary Nigerian footballer Segun Odegbami has shared his thoughts on the Super Eagles’ chances at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), offering a blunt assessment of the team’s prospects.
Despite expressing confidence in Nigeria’s potential to win the 2025 AFCON, former Super Eagles star believes the team is unlikely to secure the continental title.
Odegbami, a key figure in Nigeria’s football history, has always been outspoken about the state of the national team.
In his recent column on Complete Sports, the ex-footballer acknowledged Nigeria’s immense talent but also pointed out areas where he feels the Super Eagles fall short.
He said, “From December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the world will be treated to the best of African football, once again. My immediate feeling is that Nigeria can win AFCON 2025, but the Super Eagles will not.
It has been a battle between my heart (for patriotic reasons) that wills the Eagles to win it, and my head that tells me they are not good enough to win it this time around.
The draws of the TotalEnergies CAF African Cup of Nations, AFCON 2025, were concluded last week in Rabat, Morocco. The road to the most prestigious football championship in Africa was, thus, flung open to analysts and soothsayers, and the wagering war has begun.
He continued, “So far, I see nothing in my Crystal ball that even remotely suggests that the Super Eagles are one of the favorites to win it. Can they? Yes, on paper. Will they? In my realistic consideration, far from it. However, in football, anything can happen, more so that, as the cliche goes, ‘there are no more minnows in African football’.
As the Super Eagles prepare for the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, there is no shortage of expectations.
The three-time African champions have been drawn into Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
