Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has praised his teammate Victor Osimhen as “three strikers in one,” ahead of Nigeria’s third-place clash against Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Footynaija.com reports.
The Nigerian side is aiming to finish the tournament on a high after a narrow semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco on penalties. Nigeria’s journey in North Africa has been marked by strong group stage performances, including a 3–2 win over Tunisia, which secured their place in the knockout rounds.
The team progressed past Algeria in the round of 16 and edged out their quarter-final opponents to reach the last four, where they fell just short of the final. Ndidi has been a central figure throughout, captaining the side and providing leadership both on and off the pitch.
Related Post
The Super Eagles now face Egypt in the third-place playoff at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. Both teams are looking to claim the bronze medal and close the tournament with a tangible achievement.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match against the Pharaohs, the captain highlighted Osimhen’s influence on the team.
“When you have one of the best strikers in the world, what do you expect? He carries the team now. He’s a great player. If he wasn’t on the pitch, we would miss him. Since the coach came, he doesn’t make him feel like everyone needs to be that standard,” he said.
“The way Osimhen plays, everyone needs to follow. Osimhen is a wonderful striker for the team. He is amazing. He’s three strikers in one. The coach says it is a team game. I think we should just watch out for this team in a couple of years,” he added.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to harness the full strength of their squad in the final group-stage match, with the clash against Egypt offering a chance to end AFCON 2025 with a podium finish.
