Super Eagles defender Igoh Ogbu has reaffirmed his readiness to contribute on and off the pitch as Nigeria prepares for the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
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The Slavia Prague centre-back, who featured in Nigeria’s final group-stage match against Uganda, said he remains fully committed to the team’s objective, whether selected in the starting lineup or called upon from the bench. According to Ogbu, every player understands the importance of staying prepared at this stage of the competition.
“I’m always ready to play when the opportunity comes,” Ogbu said. “And if I’m not starting, my job is to support the team and stay prepared. What matters most is that we keep pushing each other.”
Ogbu acknowledged that Nigeria’s defensive unit has come under scrutiny at different points in the tournament but stressed that the team has been working hard in training to correct mistakes and improve overall organization at the back.
“We’ve been working a lot in training to reduce errors,” he added. “We know there are things to fix, but the team has the quality and mentality to solve those problems and come back even stronger.”
The defender emphasized that unity and communication within the squad have been crucial to Nigeria’s progress so far, noting that competition for places has helped raise standards across the team.
Nigeria will now face a stern test against Algeria national football team in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Marrakesh, with a place in the semifinals at stake.
Ogbu believes the Super Eagles are mentally ready for the challenge ahead. “At this stage, every match is like a final,” he said. “We’re focused, prepared and ready to give everything for Nigeria.”
As AFCON 2025 enters its decisive phase, Ogbu’s message is clear: readiness, unity and hard work will be key as Nigeria battles Algeria for a spot in the last four.
