Follow Us on Google
The Super Eagles put up an impressive performance at the just concluded 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Morocco, by finishing in third position. We commend the team and the coaching crew for finishing third. The Teranga Lions of Senegal lifted the trophy, having defeated the Atlas Lions of Morocco in a feisty final match played at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat. Nigeria’s only loss at the tournament came in the semi- final match with Morocco, which ended in penalties. It was the 17th time the Super Eagles had appeared in the last four of the competition, a demonstration of Nigeria’s consistency in AFCON tournaments.
Although the Super Eagles did not bring home the trophy, the bronze medal is a consolation. Nigeria’s third position at the 2025 AFCON has affirmed the team’s pedigree as one of the best teams on the continent. The latest bronze medal is the Super Eagles’ ninth since the inception of AFCON, and the most by any other African nation in the tournament’s history. The Super Eagles’ impressive outing in Morocco has also questioned the team’s non-qualification for the 2026 World Cup, despite having many talented players. No doubt, the Super Eagles was among the best team in the tournament. Three of Super Eagles’ players, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey made the CAF Best 11 at the tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Moroccan FA deserve commendations for hosting the most commercially successful AFCON tournament in history. Future hosts of AFCON should build on Morocco’s success. According to CAF, revenue from Morocco increased to 90 per cent, compared to previous editions. CAF attributed this to the significant increment in commercial partners, expanded distribution of media rights, among others. The tournament attracted 23 sponsors, compared to nine sponsors during the Cameroon 2019 AFCON and 17 sponsors for the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast. Morocco also gave AFCON higher visibility.
However, we condemn the poor officiating that trailed the tournament. Some teams that played the host nation complained bitterly of referee’s bias in favour of the host. Some of these matches include the round of 16 match involving Tanzania and the Atlas Lions of Morocco, the quarter final match involving Morocco and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, and the semi-final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Atlas Lions of Morocco. The bias was so obvious in the final match between Morocco and Senegal. Despite poor officiating, Senegal persevered and won the trophy.
Other News
It is laudable that CAF has sanctioned Senegalese Football Federation and Royal Moroccan Football Federation as a result of the incidents in the AFCON final which almost marred the integrity of the tournament. We commend CAF for sanctioning individual players for their roles in the fracas. However, CAF should also probe allegations of poor officiating in the tournament as well. There is need to enhance the standard of officiating at AFCON. CAF should not look away while AFCON is being trampled upon with poor officiating. There is no law which states that a host nation must win the trophy.
The seeming desperation of host nations to win AFCON at all costs is untidy and unacceptable. The CAF leadership must ensure fairness in the officiating of AFCON. Let all the teams be treated equally. The impression should not be created that a host nation would win the trophy. We say this because such an assumption defeats the spirit of fair play. It must not be encouraged. All the participating teams must be treated fairly. Biased officiating as witnessed in Morocco must not be tolerated. The 2027 AFCON to be hosted by the East African nations of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya should serve as an opportunity for CAF to address the anomalies witnessed in Morocco.
Now that AFCON 2025 is over, this is the time to start preparing for another edition. The Super Eagles should be further groomed under the present coach, Eric Chelle. We commend the team and the coaching crew for our good performance in Morocco. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should retain the services of Chelle and his coaching crew. There is even no need to change the coach now.
