So the present is over for the Tremendous Eagles. Nigeria’s run on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations got here to a heartbreaking finish within the semifinals as they had been downed by hosts and event favourites Morocco on penalties in Rabat. Éric Chelle’s males already know the ache of a shootout defeat, having lately been overwhelmed by underdogs DR Congo in a World Cup qualifying playoff, and this defeat to the Atlas Lions stung simply as a lot.
Till this level, Nigeria had been one of many stars of the present at AFCON. They stormed by means of the group stage, choosing up an ideal three wins from three, together with a riveting 3-2 win in opposition to North America-bound Tunisia. From there, the Tremendous Eagles resoundingly knocked off each Mozambique and heavyweights Algeria to punch their tickets to the ultimate 4. Regardless of holding their very own in opposition to Morocco within the semifinals, the hosts had an ace up their sleeve within the type of penalty-saving specialist goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
The Al-Hilal man saved spotkicks from Samu Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, offering Youssef En-Nesyri the chance to brush the Moroccans into the ultimate. The Everton-bound striker duly obliged, slotting previous Stanley Nwabali to ship his facet to the ultimate. However whereas Morocco is certainly the favorite for AFCON glory, on-line betting websites assume that their journey to the upcoming World Cup in the summertime might be a way more fruitless endeavour.
The Atlas Lions are positioned as an 80/1 outsider to win the World Cup for the primary time later this 12 months, and the usage of a high-quality betting instrument exhibits simply how far-off they’re from the event favourites.
The favored parlay calculator at Thunderpick exhibits that whereas a $10 stake on Morocco would yield some $800 in winnings, the identical stake on 8/2 frontrunners Spain – a staff Morocco beat in Qatar 4 years in the past – would pay simply $45.
Nigeria, in fact, gained’t be headed to North America following the playoff debacle in opposition to DR Congo. Nonetheless, they did handle to revive loads of satisfaction within the Tremendous Eagles all through their run to the semifinals. So, who had been the best-performing Nigerians in Morocco this winter? Let’s have a look.
Ever since his spectacular hat trick for Atalanta within the 2024 Europa League closing in opposition to the beforehand good Bayer Leverkusen, Ademola Lookman has remodeled right into a celebrity. His dazzling brilliance was on show as soon as extra at AFCON as the previous Everton man netted three targets and supplied an extra 4 assists, propelling the Tremendous Eagles to the semifinals for the third time in 4 tournaments.
His brilliance shone within the 3-2 group stage thriller in opposition to Tunisia, with Lookman netting as soon as and aiding two extra to safe Man of the Match honours in opposition to Nigeria’s hardest opponent in Group C.
The 28-year-old dazzled additional with a shocking strike versus Tanzania and an attacking masterclass within the 4-0 rout of Mozambique, wherein he scored and created likelihood after likelihood for striker Victor Osimhen.
Within the semis, Lookman’s brilliance would dry up in opposition to a closely favoured Morocco staff, however not earlier than he additional cemented his legacy as arguably Africa’s finest participant on present type.
Victor Osimhen roared again to type at AFCON 2025, netting 4 targets and including 2 assists throughout 6 matches, additional closing in on Nigeria’s all-time scoring document. He headed into the event underneath a cloud of scepticism after accidents wrecked the primary half of his 2025/26 season.
These damage woes price the Tremendous Eagles massively in World Cup qualifying, however the Galatasaray hitman proved as soon as once more that when match and firing, there are few higher strikers in world soccer.
All through the group stage, Osimhen got here in for criticism for his poor perspective, regardless of the Tremendous Eagles romping to prime spot in Group C. These considerations got here to a head within the 4-0 drubbing of Mozambique within the second spherical because the striker and the aforementioned Lookman seemingly clashed on the sphere.
Each males performed down the incident postgame earlier than Osimhen responded emphatically within the quarterfinals, scoring the opener and aiding one other as Nigeria knocked out Algeria.
Sadly, the Tremendous Eagles’ most important man was unable to supply additional heroics in opposition to Morocco within the semifinals as he and his staff bravely bowed out.
Wilfried Ndidi anchored Nigeria’s midfield with authority at AFCON 2025, taking part in 5 matches regardless of suspension points. The Besiktas man was his typical dominating presence within the centre of the park, breaking apart assaults, dictating tempo, and guaranteeing that his staff remained strong in transition.
The Tremendous Eagles conceded simply 4 targets within the event – none of them coming within the knockout spherical – and far of that was all the way down to their destroyer in midfield.
A slew of yellow playing cards all through the event meant that Ndidi missed the semifinal in opposition to Morocco, and it was his absence that was felt most as his facet was overwhelmed on penalties.
