Salomon Kalou Backs Nigeria To Win AFCON 2025

..Ighalo backs Osimhen for Eagles captaincy

Former Ivory Coast international, Salomon Kalou, has thrown his support behind the Super Eagles to clinch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Morocco. Kalou believes Nigeria, who were runners-up in the previous edition after a 2-1 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final, possess the necessary quality to go one better this time.

In his weekly blog for Tribuna, Kalou highlighted the strengths of the Nigerian squad. “Nigeria looks very strong this year. With Victor Osimhen leading the line, they have one of the most feared strikers in world football,” Kalou wrote. He further added, “Add in the pace and creativity of Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze, plus Wilfred Ndidi’s stability in midfield, and you see a team with balance and depth.”
Nigeria, one of the most successful nations in AFCON history with three titles, five runner-up finishes, and eight bronze medals, will compete in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Their campaign for a fourth continental crown is set to commence next Tuesday against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania. The team, under the guidance of Éric Chelle, will be aiming to build on their previous performance and secure the coveted trophy.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo believed Victor Osimhen should be named new captain of the team, saying he is best suited for the role.

“There are several players ahead of him (as senior players), but now Osimhen is doing well and he has the balls to demand what the team wants.

Ndidi is not the talking type, he’s a very calm guy, but Osimhen is outspoken, he is going to speak on behalf of the team, he’s going to ginger the boys, he’s going to fight for the boys, he will speak to any body he needs to speak to to make sure they are okay,” Ighalo told ESPN..

“The captain’s job is not easy because your neck is on the line, because whatever the boys demand it’s you that will put it forward to the NFF. And if NFF wants to come for anybody, they are coming for you because you are the captain.

“With Osimhen, he will speak and nothing can happen because he’s the biggest player in the team, so they won’t want to look down on him, they will listen to him because he’s doing well.

“When you’re doing well, you have every power to demand for stuff and he’s in that position.

“He has the character to step up and demand for the team because when you see him he is hustling, he’s showing it on the pitch and so you as a player will listen to him and also fight for the team.”