Victor Osimhen and the Super Eagles are nursing fresh wounds from another World Cup miss, but all eyes now turn to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which offers Nigeria a fresh path to redemption. With the tournament kicking off on December 21, 2025, this could be the moment the three-time champions turn pain into silverware, starting in a tricky Group C against Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign ended in bitter fashion on November 16, 2025, with a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat. Nigeria had scraped through as one of the best second-placed teams from the group stage, finishing runners-up to South Africa in Group C after a rollercoaster campaign marked by coaching changes and off-field drama. The team bounced back in the playoff semi-final, thrashing Gabon 4-1 in extra time on November 13, with Osimhen netting twice to fire up the attack. But against DRC, an early Frank Onyeka goal was canceled out by Meschak Elia. After extra time, misses from Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon sealed Nigeria’s fate in the shootout. It marked the first time since 1990 that Nigeria would miss consecutive World Cups, leaving fans gutted and coach Eric Chelle fuming over what he called a “voodoo” distraction during penalties.
The fallout hit hard. Osimhen, who limped off injured at halftime against DRC, was seen in tears as his side crashed out, denying a “golden generation” packed with Europe-based stars a shot at the expanded 48-team finals in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Head coach Chelle, appointed in January 2025, pulled no punches post-match. “Our players are suffering, and we must find a cure. Instead of hurting, we must hurt our opponents,” he told reporters in Rabat. The 48-year-old, who took Mali to the 2023 AFCON quarter-finals before switching to Nigeria, knows the pressure all too well. Born to a French father and Malian mother but raised in France, Chelle’s playing days as a defender for clubs like Lens and Valenciennes gave way to coaching stints that caught the eye, including Mali’s rare 2024 friendly win over Nigeria.
Now, with the World Cup disappointment in the rearview mirror, Chelle has shifted his focus to AFCON 2025. Nigeria enters the tournament as top seeds in Group C, with all of their group-stage games set to be played in Fes, a northern Moroccan city. The cooler December weather could give the Super Eagles a slight edge. Their opener comes on December 23 against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, followed by Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 31 fixtures that could define whether they progress or face an early exit. As one of Africa’s powerhouses with 20 prior AFCON appearances and titles in 1980, 1994, and 2013, Nigeria boasts a squad depth that screams potential. Chelle faces his toughest selection headache up top: beyond Osimhen’s aerial dominance and finishing 31 goals in 46 caps he has a wealth of talent to choose from, including 2024 African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Moses Simon, Adams Akor, and Chidera Ejuke.
“One of my biggest challenges in Morocco will be picking my strike force from an array of top-class strikers,” Chelle admitted, highlighting the luxury of options after a disjointed World Cup campaign where injuries and over-reliance on Osimhen exposed gaps.
Osimhen, now recovered and firing for Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, has been vocal about channeling the frustration from the World Cup miss into something more productive. The Turkey-based forward, who scored eight goals in seven World Cup qualifiers, questioned the “golden generation” tag after the DRC heartbreak. “Nigerians keep telling us we are a golden generation. But we have now failed twice in succession to qualify for the World Cup,” he said. “If we are that good, how come we keep failing? Now we have to return to Morocco and win the Cup of Nations. Our squad is packed with great Nigerians playing for some of the best clubs in Europe. The time has come to translate that greatness into trophies.”
His words echo a nation of 230 million “national coaches,” as Chelle puts it, with the pressure mounting ahead of the tournament. Chelle has steered clear of social media to focus on the job, but he knows the stakes: “My squad and I are under enormous pressure because there are about 230 million Nigerians—which means 230 million national coaches.”
Group C won’t be a stroll. Tunisia, the 2004 champions and consistent knockout performers, loom as the biggest threat. Ranked higher than Uganda and Tanzania, the Carthage Eagles held Brazil to a draw in a friendly last month and boast a perfect head-to-head record against Uganda. Their December 27 clash with Nigeria in Fes revives a rivalry Nigeria leads 3-1-2 in six prior AFCON meetings but coach Samy Trabelsi is bullish. “Tunisia have had an excellent year,” Chelle noted, while Trabelsi called Nigeria a “continental powerhouse with a vast pool of talent playing for top European clubs.” Still, he added, “Anything is possible at an AFCON. If we set our minds to it, we can achieve a lot. My target is at least a semi-finals place.”
Tunisia’s qualifying campaign was shakythey lost at home to Comoros and Gambiabut they stormed to 2026 World Cup qualification with nine wins, a draw, and 10 clean sheets.
Uganda returns after skipping the last two AFCONs, coached by Belgian Paul Put, who promises a side that “will not back down when we play stronger opponents.” The Cranes bring energy and organization, with their East African derby against Tanzania on December 23 in Rabat carrying extra bite as co-hosts for the 2027 tournament.
Tanzania, the Taifa Stars, switched coaches late, swapping Hemed Suleiman for Argentine Miguel Gamondi, and recalled captain Mbwana Samatta after strong Ligue 1 form with Le Havre. Yet to win an AFCON game in three prior tries, they face Nigeria first and eye progress as a stepping stone. Chelle praised both East Africans: “Uganda are improving consistently under Paul Put, and many of the Tanzanians play in one of the strongest domestic leagues in Africa.”
As Nigeria gears up for AFCON 2025, the World Cup flop lingers as fuel for the Super Eagles. Chelle, drawing from his Mali days where they fell 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the 2023 quarter-finals, preaches unity and attacking football. The Super Eagles’ historyrunners-up in 2023 and seven other finalsdemands more, and with Osimhen leading the charge, a deep run in Morocco could heal the scars. The tournament runs until January 18, 2026, across six host cities, but for Nigeria, it’s about reclaiming glory one match at a time.
