AFCON 2025: Ogenyi Onazi Backs Super Eagles To Win Fourth Title

Former Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi has thrown his weight behind the Super Eagles, insisting the team has what it takes to lift a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Nigeria head into the competition under a cloud of uncertainty after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a setback that has fuelled doubts about how far the team can go on the continental stage.

Those concerns were further amplified when head coach Eric Chelle left out established names such as Maduka Okoye, Terem Moffi and Tolu Arokodare from his final AFCON squad. In their place, the Franco-Malian tactician handed opportunities to less familiar faces including Salim Fago Lawal, Tochukwu Nnadi and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro.

Despite the scepticism, Onazi believes history could repeat itself if the players embrace the challenge ahead.

Drawing parallels with Nigeria’s triumphant 2013 campaign in South Africa, the former Lazio midfielder said the presence of fresh faces should not be seen as a weakness for the three-time African champions.

“Just like our team in 2013, we had many new players who made people not believe in us,” Onazi told Footy Africa.

“We knew we had a huge task in front of us, and we decided to give it our best. We were able to lift the title. I expect the same from this set of players.”