Goal-scoring machine lacking concentration in defense: How the Nigeria national team is performing at AFCON 2025
The best sports betting site 1xBet, Official Sponsor of Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations 2025, analyzes the Super Eagles’ performances.
Looking for consolation
AFCON 2025 has taken on special significance for the Nigeria national team after their second consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. The country’s football community expects the team to improve on its previous AFCON result (runners-up) and become the best in Africa for the first time since 2013.
Huge attacking potential
Éric Chelle always strives to have his teams play attacking football. Nigeria’s squad perfectly suits the Malian coach’s style, as the Super Eagles have arguably the best selection of forwards and attacking midfielders on the continent. Well-known players such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi and Victor Boniface didn’t even make the squad for AFCON 2025. Paul Onuachu, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Chidera Ejuke don’t get much playing time, but are always ready to boost the team’s performance.
Consistent lineup and leaders’ high level
In the matches against Tanzania (2-1), Tunisia (3-2) and Mozambique (4-0), Chelle chose a 4-3-1-2 formation. Only in the group stage round 3 game against Uganda (3-1), when a large number of reserves were used, did the coach try a classic 4-4-2 formation. Sometimes during matches, our team switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation. The only thing that remained unchanged was the Nigerians’ desire to dominate the pitch.
The figures speak for themselves:
- Nigeria scored 12 goals, more than any other team at AFCON 2025. This also equals the national record in the tournament’s history. In addition, the Super Eagles scored 8 goals in the group stage for the first time.
- Our national team ranks first at AFCON 2025 in terms of shots (17.8 per game on average) and passing accuracy (89.8%), second in terms of xG (10.39), and third in ball possession (63.3%), behind only Morocco and South Africa.
- Nigeria attack in a variety of ways: 6 goals were scored in positional attacks, 4 goals after set pieces and 2 goals after counterattacks. The latter two figures are the best in the tournament.
Any ideas the coach may have will come to nothing without a strong performance from the leaders. There are no complaints about our stars so far. Ademola Lookman has scored 3 goals and made 4 assists, and Victor Osimhen has scored 3 goals (at the last AFCON, he scored only once in 7 matches) and provided 1 assist. The Galatasaray striker plays in tandem with Akor Adams, but he has developed a good understanding with Lookman. Victor and Ademola have provided a total of 3 assists for each other, which makes them the best duo in the tournament. Alex Iwobi has only 2 assists to his name, but he is the real driving force in the midfield and an excellent playmaker.
Gaps in defense
It’s worrying that our national team only managed a clean sheet in the match against Mozambique. Stanley Nwabali doesn’t always look confident, and the team sometimes loses concentration in front of its goal. The game against Tunisia was particularly telling when the Nigerians almost let a 3-goal lead slip away.
Only the strongest teams remain at AFCON 2025. Follow Africa’s main national team tournament and support the Super Eagles with the best sports betting site 1xBet ng!
