Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal has backed the Super Eagles to emerge victorious at the 2025 African Cup of Nations, citing the team’s abundance of quality, SportPremi reports.
The Super Eagles head into the tournament in Morocco, hoping to add a long-awaited fourth continental crown, after near-misses in recent years.
Sunday Mba’s strike earned them a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in 2013, marking a third triumph, but they have only reached the final once since then.
They got to the final of the tournament in the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast, but were beaten 2-1 by the host nation.
They also previously reached the last four in 2019, losing to eventual winners Algeria, before defeating Tunisia to win bronze medal
The Super Eagles will also head into this month’s tournament as one of the favorites to lift the title, due to the immense quality in the squad.
Players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey rank among the very best in their respective positions globally, while the midfield is also packed with quality.
Lawal tips Nigeria for AFCON triumph
Former Super Eagles forward Garba Lawal, who played at four editions of the African Cup of Nations, understands what it feels to represent the country at the tournament.
According to the former Lobi Stars winger, Eric Chelle’s squad is highly-stacked and can be victorious in the tournament.
“The players know what is at stake. After missing the World Cup, the AFCON is the one competition they must take very seriously. They have the ability to challenge anyone in Africa and go all the way”, Lawal said.
“Getting to the final in the Ivory Coast showed the world what Nigeria can do. This team is full of talent, and I believe what they need now is focus and belief. If they approach every match with the right mentality, they can return to the final and win it.
With Osimhen in the squad, Nigeria always have a chance against other countries, as he has proven over and over again. He is one of the best strikers in the world, and he can make the difference in tight games. If he is fit and in good form, Nigeria can go far, even all the way to the title”, he added.
“You can see from the provisional list that there is a good mix of youth and experience. If the coaches blend them well, Nigeria will be very difficult to stop”, Lawal concluded.
Nigeria will begin their campaign against Tanzania on the 23rd of December, before further group matches against Tunisia and Uganda.
