Former Super Eagles midfielder Femi Ajilore has delivered a sobering assessment ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, insisting that even if Nigeria wins the tournament, it cannot erase the disappointment of failing to qualify for the last two World Cups.
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Ajilore, a member of Nigeria’s Beijing 2008 Olympic silver-winning squad, said fans and players must remain honest about the scale of the setback.
“Winning AFCON will be great, but it won’t cover up missing out on back-to-back World Cups. That pain does not just disappear,” he said.
Nigeria will enter AFCON with high expectations despite years of inconsistent performances, but Ajilore believes the deeper structural issues in Nigerian football cannot be masked by a short-term success.
“Our football still needs fixing. There are serious problems at every level, administration, planning, preparation. An AFCON trophy won’t change that overnight,” he warned.
He described a potential AFCON triumph as consolidation, not redemption.
“If we win, it will be a good step forward, a kind of consolation. But it does not erase what happened with the World Cup qualifiers,” Ajilore stated.
The former midfielder also urged the players to approach the tournament with humility, hunger, and responsibility, especially after the heartbreak that millions of Nigerians endured.
“The boys must give everything. The country needs a team that fights, not one that makes excuses,” he said.
Ajilore emphasized that Nigeria’s football authorities must take long-term rebuilding more seriously, saying the national team cannot continue relying on last-minute planning and emotional reactions.
“We need a proper structure. We need long-term planning. We cannot keep repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results,” he added.
He however expressed optimism that the Super Eagles can still make Nigerians proud in Morocco if they play with identity and discipline.
“Despite everything, I want them to win it. I will be very happy if they do. But we must not deceive ourselves, the work to fix Nigerian football must continue,” he concluded.
