Former Everton captain and Nigeria international Joseph Yobo has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will mount a serious challenge for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Morocco. Yobo, who led Nigeria to their last AFCON triumph in 2013, believes that with quality players and strong leadership under head coach Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles are well-positioned to reclaim Africa’s top football prize.

Speaking after Nigeria’s placement in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in the AFCON draw held in Rabat, Yobo acknowledged the tough road ahead. Despite Nigeria’s strong record in AFCON, where they have reached the knockout stages in 18 of 20 appearances, Yobo cautioned that success will not come easy.

“It’s never going to be easy for us, but knowing the Super Eagles, coming out of the group is never a problem,” Yobo said. The group’s most formidable opponent is expected to be Tunisia, who eliminated Nigeria in the 2021 Round of 16. However, Yobo remains optimistic, stressing the importance of building momentum from the group stage into the knockout rounds.

Nigeria’s impressive AFCON history, with three titles and 16 total medals, bolsters their chances. Yobo pointed out that after narrowly losing to Côte d’Ivoire in the 2023 final, this is the perfect opportunity to reclaim the title.

“We have the players and a wonderful new coach to make that happen,” Yobo added, highlighting the need for consistency and focus throughout the tournament.

As Nigeria prepares for the challenge, Yobo’s words serve as a reminder that, despite the tough competition, the Super Eagles are more than capable of adding another AFCON trophy to their collection.