AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will contend against Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C of the 2025 Africa of Nations in Morocco later this year.
The three-time champions, without a doubt are the favorite to top the group given the overwhelming array of talented players the team has.
Williams Troost-Ekong, captain of the Super Eagles leads the star-studded squad which comprises of Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface, former African best player Victor Osimhen and the reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman.
Nigeria should defeat the Cranes of Uganda and the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, recently coached by legendary Nigerian winger Emmanuel Amunike.
However, football is not as straightforward as it is on paper.
Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania have decent players that can wreak havoc on the Super Eagles even though they are not as popular or talented as the Nigerian players.
This post takes a look at least three players the Super Eagles should be weary of in the group stage when the tournament kicks-off in December.
1. Youssef Msakni
That name sounds very familiar especially to the Super Eagles. Msakni’s goal knocked Nigeria out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroun. The Super Eagles enjoyed a brilliant start to the tournament as they recorded nine points from three games in the group stage.
The Carthage Eagles barely survive a group stage ouster as they qualified for the round of sixteen as one of the best losers.
However, Tunisia as the underdogs shocked the Super Eagles with 1-0 victory courtesy of Youssef Msakni’s 47th minute strike from range.
Youssef Msakni is a legendary Tunisian player with a handful of experience at the AFCON. He has scored 9 goals in 7 Africa Cup of Nations appearances for the Carthage Eagles and will look to add to that tally between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.
The 34-year-old forward is Tunisia’s third all-time top scorer with 23 goals in 104 appearances. He plays a winger but has the ability to play across the forward line given his pace and trickery with the ball.
Another player the Super Eagles should watch out for is Wahbi Khazri who plays as an attacking midfielder, left winger or forward. The 33-year-old is the second all-time top scorer of the team with 25 goals in 74 matches. He is very strong on the ball and just like Msakni, slippery as an eel.
2. Simon Msuva
The 31-year-old winger might not be as talented as Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze or Chidera Ejuke but he is quite good with his feet and can pounce when the opportunity arises. The winger scored two goals in two matches en route to Tanzania’s qualification for the tournament.
Simon Msuva is Tanzania’s second all-time leading scorer. The winger has 23 goals in 94 matches for the Taifa Stars since he made his debut for the national team in 2012. He has two goals in two Africa Cup of Nations appearances and will look to add more to it when the competition commences in December.
3 Denis Omedi and Travis Mutyaba
The duo are always in the starting line-up for Uganda except for injury or suspension as they helped the team qualify for the competition.
Denis Omedi plays a winger or forward while Travis Mutyaba plays an attacking midfielder.
Omedi scored two goals while Mutyaba scored one in six matches respectively for the Cranes during qualification.
Denis Omedi is quite versatile as he can as a striker or a false 9 as well as a winger.
The 31-year-old plays for APR in the Rwandese Football League while Travis Mutyaba plays for Bordeaux in France.
Uganda’s second all-time top scorer Farouk Miya who didn’t feature during the qualifiers might return ahead of the tournament.
Farouk Miya is quite familiar with the Super Eagles as he scored the lone goal in an international friendly in 2015.
