Former Super Eagles international Duke Udi has dismissed concerns surrounding Nigeria’s 2–1 friendly defeat to Egypt, insisting the result is not a true reflection of the team’s ability ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
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Reacting to the warm-up loss, Udi explained that the Super Eagles had limited preparation time, with players arriving from different clubs and continents just days before the match.
“The team had only a couple of training sessions. You can’t expect everything to click immediately,” Udi said.
The former winger noted that slow starts have historically been a pattern with the Super Eagles, particularly before major tournaments.
“This is not new. Nigeria usually start slowly and grow into tournaments,” he added.
Udi stressed that friendly matches should be viewed as preparation tools rather than performance indicators.
“Friendly games are for assessment. They show you what needs to be fixed, not where you’ll finish,” he said.
He argued that competitive matches bring out a different mentality from Nigerian players, especially when tournament stakes are high.
“Once the competition starts, you’ll see a different Nigeria. That’s usually how it works,” Udi explained.
The former international also highlighted the importance of judging the team based on their opening AFCON game rather than pre-tournament results.
“The first AFCON match will tell us a lot more than any friendly,” he noted.
Udi urged fans and observers to avoid premature conclusions, warning that pressure from criticism could affect confidence.
“Too much negativity before the tournament doesn’t help anyone,” he said.
Despite recent doubts, Udi remains confident that Nigeria has the quality to compete strongly once the tournament begins.
“This team has good players. Give them time to settle and you’ll see improvement,” he added.
As the Super Eagles continue preparations in Morocco, Udi’s message is one of calm and patience, urging Nigerians to reserve judgment until competitive football begins and the team has a fair chance to show its true level.
