Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has declared that the team is ready and fully focused ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group C opening game against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on Tuesday, Bold Sports reports.
The Super Eagles head into their clash with Tanzania boasting a strong AFCON group stage record, having lost just once in their last 14 matches, with 10 wins and three draws. Nigeria have also remained unbeaten in their opening game across the last three editions of the tournament.
They will take on Tanzania, who are making only their fourth AFCON appearance, are winless in the 10 games they’ve played in the tournament, and have lost all three of their previous opening fixtures at the finals.
“The spirit in the camp is very high, we’re very energised. This game is very important for us, it’s the game that sets the momentum. The guys are ready, everyone is ready, from the players to the staff, everyone is focused on this game,” Wilfred Ndidi said in his pre-match press conference.
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The Besiktas midfielder was confirmed as the new captain of the Super Eagles ahead of the AFCON following William Troost-Ekong’s international retirement. Ndidi, however, insists he feels no pressure, crediting the support he receives from senior teammates and the coaching staff.
“To be honest, there’s no pressure. We’ve got senior players in the team helping out, with the help of the coach and staffs. I’ve been here learning from the former captain Troost-Ekong so there’s no pressure at all.
Nigeria finished as runners-up at the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast, losing to the hosts in the final. Ndidi believes the team has taken lessons from that experience and are determined to turn it into an opportunity to claim the trophy.
“There are lots of lessons learnt from the previous AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire. We set the standard getting to the final, but unfortunately we couldn’t get the trophy. We cannot go below that. The standards are already high so the team is ready for that. This is an opportunity for us.”
Despite being considered overwhelming favorites against the Taifa Stars, Ndidi insists that no nation at the AFCON should be underestimated: “Every country that has qualified for the AFCON cannot be underrated. They’re capable of competing for the trophy. We as Nigerians are here to contend, not just to compete.”
Ndidi also shared the motivation fueling the Super Eagles in their pursuit of Nigeria’s fourth continental title: “The inspiration comes from the team and from Nigerians, what we’ve gone through before and what we’re expecting now. The inspiration is what we have at hand and what we’re going to do. We’re focused on this AFCON, and we’ll see what is next.”
Nigeria will kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès by 6:30 pm, while the other Group C fixture between Tunisia and Uganda is set for 9:00 pm at the Stade Olympique de Rabat.
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