Former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has praised the Super Eagles’ performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, describing the team’s progress to the semi-finals as a positive display of growth and confidence. He credited the team’s improvement to tactical adjustments by the coach, who learned from Nigeria’s World Cup experience.
Adepoju gave a general pass mark to the squad, highlighting that all players performed well, from goalkeeper to attackers, and stressed the need to build on the team’s potential for future tournaments. He emphasized that the experience revealed the quality of Nigerian players and should serve as a foundation for further development.
While commending Morocco for top-notch infrastructure, facilities, and well-drained pitches, Adepoju criticized aspects of the tournament, particularly poor officiating and disruptive behavior by some Moroccan officials and stewards. He condemned incidents such as fans interfering with goalkeepers, calling them damaging to African football’s image.
Adepoju also noted that Morocco’s organizational standards provided important lessons for Nigeria. He suggested that Nigerian football authorities could learn from the planning, infrastructure, and intention demonstrated in Morocco to improve local tournaments and facilities.
Overall, while celebrating the Super Eagles’ achievements, Adepoju highlighted the dual lessons of AFCON 2025: the importance of team preparation and tactical acumen, and the need to address organizational shortcomings and uphold professional standards to enhance the reputation of African football.
