Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has urged Eric Chelle’s squad to tackle their biggest weakness — inconsistency — as Nigeria prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His call comes as the team continues to grapple with the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria’s qualification campaign fell short after 10 matches that produced four wins, five draws and one loss — a costly defeat to Benin Republic, the first in the nation’s competitive football history against the Cheetahs. But it was the home draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe that most alarmed fans, exposing lapses in matches expected to be comfortable victories.
Finishing behind South Africa cost Nigeria an automatic ticket, leaving them with only the continental play-off route. A dramatic 4-1 extra-time win over Gabon briefly raised hopes, but the journey ended in heartbreak following a penalty shoot-out defeat to DR Congo. The result sealed Nigeria’s absence from a second consecutive World Cup after missing Qatar 2022.
With AFCON 2025 on the horizon, Okocha believes the biggest takeaway from the failed qualifiers is the urgent need for consistency. “Nigeria’s run in the World Cup qualifiers was a rollercoaster, but we would have loved to see Nigeria qualify with ease,” he told RG.
“We all know football is not an easy game, but what they must improve on is consistency. They need to keep winning and maintain top performance in every match.”
The Super Eagles were runners-up at AFCON 2024 in Ivory Coast, restoring some pride after missing the last World Cup. Expectations for Morocco 2025 are high, especially with the sting of another World Cup exit still fresh.
Nigeria will face Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in their group, with coach Eric Chelle under pressure to deliver steady performances from a team known for its talent — and its unpredictability.
