Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has acknowledged that Nigeria faces a challenging path at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Group C opponents Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania all capable of testing the three-time champions.
The 2025 tournament, set to be hosted in Morocco, offers Nigeria another shot at continental glory after their narrow defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in the previous final.
Troost-Ekong believes the group stage will demand full focus, as each opponent brings something different to the table.
Tunisia, he noted, are a consistent force in African football, while Uganda and Tanzania possess the energy and unpredictability that could make them dangerous.
In a chat with Cafonline, the Super Eagles skipper shared his thoughts on Nigeria’s ambitions and the competitive nature of their group.
“Difficult. Tunisia knocked us out in the 2021 round of 16 and beat many in World Cup qualifying without conceding. They’re high in confidence.
“Tanzania and Uganda are also tough, we’ve faced them in several qualifiers. There’s no ‘cruise’ at AFCON. We want top spot to help the next round, but no one in our camp thinks this group is easy.”
Troost-Ekong also played down suggestions that Nigeria are outright favourites to win the tournament, pointing instead to other strong contenders.
“I think that’s overstated. We’ve got an amazing squad, too many players to name, but objectively, Morocco are at home and in great form; Côte d’Ivoire are defending champions; Senegal,… there’s no such thing as a clear favourite at AFCON.
“Last time, not many tipped us to go that far. You can’t win a tournament with expectations, and we won’t get complacent. AFCON is difficult, and strong teams can emerge from unexpected places. We trust ourselves, but I wouldn’t say we’re clear favourites.”
With the Super Eagles focused on reclaiming the continental crown, Troost-Ekong’s words underline both respect for their opponents and confidence in Nigeria’s ability to rise to the challenge.
