When a legend speaks, people listen. When that legend is Segun Odegbami—scorer of goals that helped Nigeria win their first AFCON in 1980, member of the Green Eagles generation that put Nigerian football on the map—his words carry the weight of history and achievement. So when Odegbami declared he had stopped following the Super Eagles’ preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting the team was “not good enough,” it sent shockwaves through Nigerian football.
Speaking on Inspiration FM in Uyo, the former winger didn’t mince words about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and what it meant for his relationship with the current national team.
“I am not following their preparation for AFCON, since our exit from the World Cup qualifiers, the reality is that some of us gave up because football is our business and qualifying for the World Cup is the peak of our business,” Odegbami said.
His verdict was damning: “I don’t think we truly deserved a place at the World Cup, because we didn’t work hard enough, we were not just good enough, so I’m not following what’s happening before the AFCON, I’m not going for the AFCON and that’s the reality.”
For a man who represented Nigeria at the 1976 Olympics and helped build the foundation of Nigerian football excellence, to publicly distance himself from the national team is more than criticism—it’s a painful divorce. The question now is whether the current generation of Super Eagles can prove him wrong in Morocco.
The World Cup Shadow: A Wound That Won’t Heal
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup isn’t just a statistic—it’s a trauma that continues to haunt the team and its supporters. After failing to qualify directly, the Super Eagles were handed a playoff lifeline. They made light work of Gabon in the semifinal, raising hopes of redemption. Then came the final against Congo DR, and those hopes died on penalties.
Two consecutive World Cups missed. The pain of that reality permeates everything about Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign.
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s star striker and the man expected to lead the line in Morocco, acknowledged the lingering anguish during a team media availability Monday. “For us, last month was really disappointing. It is not how we thought it would be, but life has happened and I think we have moved on, but the painful memory still lingers so we want to use this opportunity to send a clear message out there that we still have it in us.”
The Galatasaray forward, who is just seven goals away from surpassing legendary Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer, sees AFCON as a chance for redemption—both personal and collective.
“We had some shortcomings in the previous games, but this AFCON is a very big opportunity for us to rectify some things. For our own selves also, not just for the fans. We will give everything to make sure we actualize this dream.”
The Pressure Cooker: Eric Chelle’s Mandate
If the World Cup failure wasn’t enough pressure, coach Eric Chelle operates under an explicit mandate from the Nigeria Football Federation: reach the AFCON final. Nothing less will suffice.
NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau revealed this target in a recent interview with Odegbami himself: “The mandate is for him to get to the final of the tournament.”
This is a higher bar than Chelle’s predecessor Jose Peseiro faced. Peseiro was given a semifinal target at the last tournament—which he exceeded by reaching the final—yet it wasn’t enough to keep his job when the NFF declined to meet his contract demands.
For Chelle, who inherited a team mid-World Cup qualifying campaign and came agonizingly close to success, the pressure is immense. Already, there have been calls for his firing after the playoff elimination. The NFF held firm, but the reprieve feels temporary. Failure in Morocco could mean the end.
Yet Chelle projects confidence, or at least determination. “I am only focused on this tournament, I will have a meeting with my football association about everything but my focus at the moment is about the tournament and my players,” he told reporters.
When asked about the World Cup disappointment, Chelle was firm: “We are here and we have a game tomorrow and also we have a tournament, so we don’t have the time to think about what has happened before. This is not the moment to talk about the World Cup qualifiers. For now, the most important thing is this tournament.”
The Defensive Crisis: Key Absences
Nigeria will compete in Morocco without three crucial defenders who featured prominently in recent campaigns: Benjamin Fredrick, Ola Aina, and former captain William Troost-Ekong.
Fredrick, one of the revelations of 2024 who rapidly became one of Chelle’s most trusted options, suffered an injury in November that ruled him out. Aina, key to Nigeria’s silver medal run at the last AFCON, was omitted as he continues rebuilding fitness after a lengthy injury. Most significantly, Troost-Ekong—MVP of the 2023 AFCON and the first Nigerian defender to win that honor—retired from international football just weeks before the tournament.
These are not marginal losses. They represent significant disruption to Nigeria’s defensive structure. Yet Chelle insists he’s not worried.
“I am not worried. I trust my guys. Of course I would have loved to have all of the players in the team. We will work a lot on defence but it is not only about the defenders but all the players as a whole,” Chelle said at his pre-match press conference.
In their place, Chelle has recalled Chidozie Awaziem, handed a first senior call-up to Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, and included Slavia Prague centre-back Igoh Ogbu for his first AFCON. Calvin Bassey of Fulham becomes the defensive anchor—the man everything depends on.
Bassey’s Burden: From Supporting Actor to Lead Role
At 25, Calvin Bassey has seen his role transformed. At the last AFCON, he was part of a defensive unit led by Troost-Ekong. Now, with the captain retired, Bassey must be the centerpiece.
Speaking to Fulham’s official website, Bassey expressed confidence rooted in growth: “Yeah, 100 percent. I think during the last AFCON, I was 23. I have matured, and a lot of the team have matured as well. We’ve gained a lot of experience.”
He emphasized tactical evolution: “We know what it takes now. We know how difficult the competition is, and we understand what it means to represent Nigeria at that level.”
Bassey also highlighted leadership development within the squad, praising midfielder Alex Iwobi: “Alex has different roles now; he’s becoming more of a leader. That helps the team a lot because leadership isn’t just about one or two players anymore.”
This distributed leadership model will be tested immediately. Nigeria opens Group C against Tanzania on Tuesday, followed by matches against Tunisia (who eliminated Nigeria in the 2021 round of 16) and Uganda. It’s not the easiest group, and stumbling early could derail everything.
The Captain Question: Ndidi’s Quiet Leadership
With Troost-Ekong retired, the captain’s armband passed to Wilfred Ndidi, the former Leicester City midfielder now at Nottingham Forest. It’s a choice that makes sense—Ndidi has been one of Nigeria’s most consistent performers, operating as the defensive midfielder who shields the back four and allows the creative players to express themselves.
Osimhen endorsed the decision emphatically: “Wilfred was one of the leaders in the team even when Troost-Ekong was captain. He has also learned a lot from him because Ekong was one of the best captains I have known since I arrived here alongside [John Obi] Mikel and [Ahmed] Musa. For me, I am happy he was given the captaincy. It is just for all of us to support him. Every one of us will support him because he is a good person on and off the pitch. Even on the pitch he gives his all, so he deserves it and we will all rally round to help him.”
Ndidi’s personal qualities reflect his on-field role—quiet, effective, essential but rarely flashy. In his best form, he makes Nigeria almost impregnable through timely interceptions and intelligent positioning. But recent months saw his form dip and his starting position challenged by Frank Onyeka and others.
With so much at stake, Nigeria needs the Ndidi of old. The defensive shield that allows Osimhen, Lookman, and Chukwueze to wreak havoc up front.
The Attacking Trio: Talent Without Consistency
Nigeria’s attacking potential is undeniable. Victor Osimhen is one of Africa’s elite strikers, a goal-scoring machine for club and increasingly for country. Ademola Lookman won CAF African Footballer of the Year two years ago on the back of performances that included a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final. Samuel Chukwueze possesses pace, skill, and a devastating left foot.
Yet consistency remains elusive. As one analysis noted: “Between Osimhen, Lookman and Chukwueze, the Super Eagles have the makings of a forward line so lethal it can take down any defence in Africa, even around the world. The problem is that they just can’t seem to hit it at the right time, or find any form of consistency.”
Osimhen’s AFCON record particularly needs improvement. Despite scoring 31 goals in 46 international appearances (second only to Yekini’s 37 in 62 matches), he managed just one goal in a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea at the last AFCON. For a player of his caliber, that’s insufficient.
Lookman has also cooled considerably since his award-winning 2023. A transfer dispute with Atalanta appeared to knock the stuffing out of him, and recent months have seen him look nothing like the player who was so incisive for Nigeria.
Chukwueze offers equal parts excitement and frustration—brilliant one moment, maddening the next. Since joining Fulham from AC Milan, he’s looked more like his former fancy-footed self, and if he brings that form to Morocco, defenses will struggle.
The potential is there. The question is whether these three can finally synchronize when it matters most.
The Tactical Dilemma: Chelle’s Midfield Diamond
One of Chelle’s biggest challenges is tactical. His insistence on a midfield diamond formation has drawn criticism for shoehorning players into roles that don’t maximize their strengths.
As one ESPN report noted: “One of Sekou Chelle’s biggest issues is his insistence on a midfield diamond that he insists on shoehorning players into. Nigerians want results, but they also want to enjoy their team playing good football. If the coach chooses to plant his flag on the heel of his midfield diamond, he must win games. Otherwise, the consequences could be dire.”
Against Tanzania in the opener, Chelle will have some tactical flexibility. How he sets up and reacts to the match will shape perceptions moving forward. If the diamond works and Nigeria wins comfortably, criticism will quiet. If it stifles creativity and the Super Eagles struggle, the knives will come out immediately.
The Favorites Question: Where Does Nigeria Stand?
Despite all the doubt, Nigeria remains among the tournament favorites. Osimhen was diplomatic but confident when asked about their chances: “Aside from Nigeria, I think the hosts are favourites. They have a lot of quality and I also look at some other countries but this is Africa and you can’t tell because anybody can shock you. Just like us and the hosts, there are other favourites also, but I tip Nigeria Super Eagles to go all the way.”
He added pragmatically: “We are not underrating anyone in our group, but we are up there with so many favourites in this tournament. It is not going to be easy and we have a long way to go but I think I’m positive about the squad.”
Lookman echoed similar themes of unity and building on the last tournament’s near-miss: “Last time we came so close but didn’t win. Keeping that togetherness, that unity we have in this squad is important to keep us going. Obviously, we have to show quality in our games, show togetherness and fight. We have that. If it all comes together, we will be great.”
Both forwards see the World Cup pain as potential fuel: “Obviously, that was disappointing for all of us, we know that we bear that also. Hopefully we can use that pain into something positive and turn it into something powerful to drive us,” Lookman said.
The Generational Weight: Nigeria’s AFCON Legacy
Nigeria’s AFCON history is decorated but distant. Three titles—1980, 1994, and 2013—represent glory but also pressure. It’s been 12 years since the last triumph. An entire generation of Nigerian football fans has come of age without experiencing that ultimate continental joy.
As the original analysis noted, Nigeria’s past AFCON successes were driven by big performances from big names. Segun Odegbami himself was central to the 1980 triumph. Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Sunday Oliseh, and Jay-Jay Okocha powered the 1994 victory. Vincent Enyeama and John Mikel Obi led the 2013 success.
The current generation has the talent. The question is whether they have the mentality, the cohesion, and the fortune to add their names to that legendary list.
The Verdict: Can They Prove Odegbami Wrong?
Segun Odegbami’s dismissal stings precisely because it comes from a place of love and disappointment rather than malice. He’s not a critic seeking to tear down—he’s a heartbroken elder statesman who gave everything for the green-and-white and can’t bear to watch the current team fall short again.
Can the Super Eagles prove him wrong? The ingredients exist:
- Talent: Osimhen, Lookman, Chukwueze, Bassey, Ndidi, Iwobi
- Experience: Many played in the 2023 final and know what it takes
- Motivation: World Cup failure provides powerful fuel
- Leadership: Ndidi as captain, Osimhen as talisman
- Youth: Emerging players bringing fresh energy
But challenges loom:
- Defensive disruption: Missing Troost-Ekong, Fredrick, Aina
- Tactical questions: Chelle’s diamond system under scrutiny
- Consistency: The attacking trio rarely firing simultaneously
- Pressure: NFF mandate, fan expectations, legend’s dismissal
The tournament begins Tuesday against Tanzania. Win, and belief grows. Struggle, and doubts multiply. By the time Group C concludes with Tunisia and Uganda, we’ll know whether this Super Eagles generation has the mettle to silence doubters and honor their country’s proud AFCON legacy.
Osimhen framed it perfectly: “For us, now we are going to war and Tuesday is the first one and we will give everything.”
Whether that’s enough to prove Segun Odegbami wrong and bring continental glory back to Nigeria remains the most compelling question in African football as Morocco 2025 begins. The Super Eagles have everything to prove—and a legend watching from the sidelines, waiting to see if they’re good enough after all.