Jose Peseiro's side are now the favourites to lift the famous gold trophy in the Ivory Coast, which could mark the start of a glorious new era
On March 29, 2022, at the Moshood Abiola national stadium in Abuja, Nigeria hit rock bottom. The Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their World Cup play-off against Ghana, who progressed to the Qatar tournament on away goals.
It was the first time Nigeria had failed to qualify for the World Cup since 2006, and chaos erupted after the final whistle. Home fans invaded the pitch and threw objects at both Ghana players and the small group of visiting supporters, with police forced to used batons and tear gas to try and disperse the crowd.
As per , two dugouts were overturned, the doors of the presidential box were smashed, and cars outside the stadium were vandalised on a night that cast a shadow over African football. Augustine Eguavoen subsequently stepped down from his role as head coach, with Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro drafted in as his replacement, and it's been a long road to redemption for Nigeria since then.
However, one man who has never stopped believing in a revival is Victor Osimhen. He insisted this Nigeria squad is still destined for "greatness" amid the painful fallout from their failed 2022 World Cup bid.
And now, as the Super Eagles close in on their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 2013, the Napoli superstar's prediction suddenly feels realistic. Nigeria are back with a vengeance, and might just be ready to become the dominant force in African football again.
GettyPoor AFCON preparation
It's certainly not been plain sailing for Nigeria to get to this point. In fact, just three months ago, Peseiro's side opened their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a pair of hugely disappointing 1-1 draws against minnows Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Those results piled more pressure on former Porto and Sporting CP boss Peseiro, who had only just survived a public summer vote organised by the head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, to decide whether he should remain at the helm.
The Portuguese has been regularly criticised for the team's lethargic performances and his selections, while it has also been reported that the NFF previously struggled to meet his $70,000-per-month wages. However, former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai came out to defend Peseiro after the Zimbabwe draw, and urged fans not to write off a promising young squad.
"They can surprise us. Football is a crazy sport. I believe they can still turn things around and make Nigerians happy," Rufai told . Nigeria went on to lose 2-0 to Guinea in their only warm-up fixture before the 2023 AFCON kicked-off, but Peseiro took a similarly defiant tone.
“I believe in the players. Each team has more quality in certain positions,” Peseiro told reporters. “My job is to find the balance”
AdvertisementGettySteady progress
The Peseiro-Out brigade were given more cause to complain when Nigeria slumped to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their AFCON group-stage opener. A major upset was even on the cards at one point, with Iban Salvador breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute to stun the Super Eagles, but Osimhen provided an instant response when nodding home an equaliser straight from the restart.
On another day, Nigeria probably would have ran out 5-0 winners. They dominated the game and had 19 shots on goal, seven of which were on target, with Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono producing a Man-of-the-Match display between the sticks.
The Super Eagles followed up that result by beating tournament hosts Ivory Coast 1-0 and Guinea-Bissau by the same scoreline, booking a spot in the round of 16 in the process. Peseiro's side once again struggled for cutting edge in the final third, and the manager laid down the law after the game. "We know our responsibility, and that must show on the field of play with better performance," Peseiro told reporters.
That message did the trick as Nigeria truly announced themselves as potential AFCON winners with an impressive 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the last 16. Ademola Lookman scored twice to tame the Indomitable Lions, who failed to post a single shot on target as the Super Eagles once again showed their defensive prowess.
It was a similar story in their quarter-final tie against Angola, with Lookman rising to the occasion once more with a 41st-minute winner, and Nigeria are hot favourites to reach the final at the expense of surprise package South Africa in semis.
Getty'Fantastic' Osimhen flying under the radar
From a quick look at the statistics, you'd be forgiven for thinking Osimhen has had a poor tournament so far. The Napoli superstar has now gone four games without scoring, while failing to convert a number of clear chances, but his relentless pressing has set the tone for Nigeria.
Osimhen is doing the dirty work for his team and letting others take the spotlight, and his efforts are not going unappreciated. "He didn't score, but he had a fantastic game. It is not easy to stop that guy," Peseiro said of the 25-year-old's contribution after the last-16 win over Cameroon. "Ask the opposition defenders how much they suffered. Nobody can win a match alone, everybody has to play, but he is a good example."
Nigeria's defence begins with Osimhen, and his quality on the ball helps to bring others into play. Napoli's 2022-23 Capocannoniere winner is more than just a goalscorer; he's a complete all-round striker who works himself into the ground for the collective cause.
It's no surprise that Osimhen is reportedly on the radar of Premier League giants like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, because his style is ideally suited to the frenetic pace of English football. He may not have hit top gear at AFCON quite yet, but with the former Lille star serving as the figurehead in this Nigeria side, they will take some stopping.
GettyLookman's reputation rebuilt
Some four years ago, Wandsworth-born Lookman was being touted for a future role in Gareth Southgate's England set-up, having earned caps for the Three Lions at both Under-19 to Under-21 level, and fans across Europe were paying attention to his displays for Julian Nagelsmann's exciting RB Leipzig team.
However, the explosive winger's stock began to drop when he returned to the Premier League on loan at Fulham, as he struggled to deliver the goods on a consistent basis in a more competitive setting. Lookman had the same problem during another temporary spell away from Leipzig at Leicester City, by which time his dreams of an England call-up had long faded away.
He saw a request to represent the Nigeria national team granted in February 2022, and six months later, he secured a permanent transfer to Serie A outfit Atalanta, where he has since been able to unlock his full potential. Lookman has emerged as one of the best wingers in Italian football over the past two seasons, recording 29 goal contributions in 49 appearances, and he's carried that form into the AFCON.
That's despite being acutely aware of the weight of expectation on Nigeria's shoulders, as he said after his latest match-winning display against Angola: "I feel the pressure wearing this shirt," the 26-year-old told reporters. "Every single time I put on the jersey, that's just what comes with being a Nigerian and playing for the country, so I'm proud to do that, to take that responsibility."
Osimhen may be Nigeria's talisman, but Lookman is his right-hand man, and if he can keep it up for two more games, there is every chance a host of Premier League sides will be eager to give him another shot at the big time in the summer.
