Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has boldly declared that the Nigerian national team is poised to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), using the heartbreak of their recent final defeat as fuel for their upcoming campaign.
In an interview on SuperSport TV, Nwabali articulated the heavy weight of expectation that comes with representing a football-obsessed nation like Nigeria.
“AFCON is one of the biggest tournaments in the world, not just in Africa,” Nwabali stated. “As a big nation, we are always expected to win, not just to participate. The feeling from the fans is clear: they want the trophy back home.”
The 2025 tournament, scheduled to be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, represents a chance for redemption. Nigeria fell agonizingly short in the 2023 final, losing 2-1 to the host nation, Ivory Coast. Nwabali, who was one of Nigeria’s standout players during that campaign, believes that experience has been a crucial learning curve for the entire squad.
“Playing the final last year, I feel this year we are going to win it,” he asserted, highlighting the strengthened resolve within the team. “We’ve learned what it takes to get there, and now we know what it takes to get over the final hurdle.”
Nwabali’s own journey mirrors the team’s narrative of highs and challenges. His breakthrough performance at the 2023 AFCON cemented him as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, earning him widespread acclaim for his composure and shot-stopping. However, recent performances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have drawn criticism, with pundits and fans highlighting unforced errors, unnecessary time-wasting antics, and avoidable yellow cards that nearly cost the team valuable points.
This dip in form sets the stage for a compelling internal competition. As new head coach Eric Chelle prepares his squad lists, Nwabali’s position is no longer uncontested.
Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, who is returning to the national team setup after a period away, is expected to provide significant competition for the starting goalkeeper role, ensuring that performance levels must remain at their peak.
Before the team can fully focus on continental glory in Morocco, a critical task remains. The Super Eagles are still embroiled in a difficult qualification battle for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The upcoming African playoffs are a must-win scenario, placing immediate pressure on the squad to deliver results.
Nwabali’s confidence sets a powerful tone for the team’s ambitions. With the lessons of Abidjan etched in their memory, a motivated Super Eagles squad, spurred by internal competition and a nation’s fervent hope, will journey to Morocco with a singular, stated goal: to lift the AFCON trophy for the first time since their 2013 triumph under the late Stephen Keshi.
