Former Nigerian goalkeeper and midfielder, Ike Shorounmu and Mutiu Adepoju, have said the Super Eagles have everything to make an impact in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Still, they warned that the team should not underrate their opponents.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. The draw took place on Monday night at the Mohamed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco.

While speaking to The Guardian, the ex-national team players pointed out that one major area fans of the team are not looking at is the talents that abound in the team.

The Super Eagles, a three-time champion of the AFCON were pitted against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, and the Cranes of Uganda respectively in group C.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorounmu, said that the team needs to be encouraged by Nigerians.

He said, “The team at the moment has got lots of talents and also they have the experience because many of them have played in the AFCON before so the group stage is nothing to really fear for once the players their acts right.

“But after the group stage, they need to go all out just like they did in Ivory Coast, where they managed to get to the final and they were just unlucky in that final because they could also have won that game, but they should not underrate any team.”

On the appointment of the Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, he said that the former Lens player and Mali coach has all he needs and he stressed that the players must cooperate with him to succeed so that the 2025 AFCON and World Cup ticket belongs to the team.

“Chelle is a good coach and the players have to just be at their best to ensure that the objectives of World Cup qualifications and the 2025 AFCON are achievable. The players are the ones who would make this happen, the coach only does his job with the cooperation of everyone involved.”

Also, another ex-international for the Super Eagles, Adepoju, said that the group C placement of the Eagles should not be seen as an easy group because football in Africa has gone beyond the level of small teams and big teams.

He said that the Super Eagles have to prove to the nation that despite their superstar status, they can still replicate their Ivory Coast experience by winning the AFCON.

He said, “Look at our team and the group, everyone would think it’s a thing that they could just defeat the other teams and just go on to the final but football in Africa is not like that now.

“Small teams especially when they hear that name Super Eagles of Nigeria are always ready for the game like a World Cup final so the team as much as we know that they have all it takes to go forward, should be on their toes.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are the runner-up of the last AFCON that was held in Ivory Coast after a 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast.