Numbers behind Nigeria’s fourth AFCON title pursuit News

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Numbers behind Nigeria’s fourth AFCON title pursuit

By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 22, 0205

As the 2025 AFCON kicks off in Morocco, Nigeria is aiming to win the title for the fourth time. ABIODUN ADEWALE presents the figures behind Nigeria’s qualification for the tournament as well as some memorable facts from the country’s previous appearances

The Super Eagles lost one game at home during the qualifying series, which was the 2-1 defeat against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on November 18, 2024. Being the last game of the series, they had secured qualification for the tournament before the match.

Victor Osimhen completed 90 minutes during one game in the qualifiers and that was the 1-1 draw against the Benin Republic in Abidjan.

Umar Sadiq’s one-minute appearance against Rwanda, during the last game of the series, is the least by any of the Nigerian players.

The two immediate past holders of the CAF African Players of the Year Award, Osimhen (2023) and Ademola Lookman (2024) scored two goals each in the series as Nigeria’s top scorers. Lookman’s two goals were scored in the first game of the series against the Benin Republic on September 7, 2024. Similarly, Osimhen’s two goals also came against the Benin Republic but spread across both legs of the game. Two players, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Samuel Chukwueze, also scored one goal each.

The Super Eagles conceded three goals during the qualifiers. They were first breached by the Benin Republic during an away game on November 14, 2024, before Rwanda put two past them in the last game at home. The team were also aw arded three goals and three points against Libya. The North Africans forfeited the botched game after their pre-match antics upon the arrival of the Super Eagles in Libya forced the team to spend hours in uncomfortable conditions at the airport.

That is also the same number of AFCON titles the country has (1980, 1994 and 2013).

All matches in the series were played in four months, from September 2024 to November 2024.

Retired defender, William Troost-Ekong and Bruno Onyemaechi played the highest number of matches (five each) as well as the highest number of minutes (450 each) during the series. The team played five matches, thanks to the botched Libya away match, which was awarded 3-0 in favour of Nigeria.

Nigeria has also lost five AFCON finals (1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023)

Six players; Victor Boniface, Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali also played four games each.

Before qualifying for AFCON 2025, the Super Eagles have finished third eight times at the AFCON (1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019). It is the most by any country in the history of the competition.

The Super Eagles have been ranked 9th at the AFCON once (2021) in Cameroon.

Among the players that featured in the qualifiers, 10 didn’t make the final squad to the tournament. They are: Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Olisa Ndah, Gabriel Osho, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Alhassan Yusuf, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Umar Sadiq and Victor Boniface

Nigeria has participated at 20 editions of the AFCON since their first in 1963.

Throughout the qualifiers, the team’s handler featured 24 out of the invited players across the windows.

Source Punch Ng

Posted December 22, 2025