Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida says the Super Eagles have a golden chance to restore national pride by targeting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the World Cup were dashed after Eric Chelle’s men fell to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final round of the African playoffs. The setback marked a second consecutive World Cup miss for the three-time African champions.
Speaking to Tribal Football, Babangida admitted the disappointment still stings but believes the AFCON presents the perfect opportunity for redemption.
“It’s still very painful to accept missing the FIFA World Cup back-to-back,” the former Ajax winger said. “But the next target is the AFCON tournament, which can be used to redeem the image of Nigerian football.”
The Super Eagles will aim for a fourth continental crown when the competition kicks off in Morocco next weekend. Nigeria finished as runners-up the last time the tournament was hosted in the North African nation, and fans will be hoping for a step further this time.
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