Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem says Nigeria must use the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as an opportunity to correct the painful failure to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that his personal ambition is to win the continental title in Morocco.
The 28-year-old, who is enjoying an impressive season with FC Nantes, featuring in all 14 matches he has been available for, is one of the regulars included in Nigeria’s provisional 55-man squad released this week.
The final squad is expected to be named in the coming days, with Nigeria set to open camp ahead of the tournament’s kickoff on December 21.
Awaziem, capped 35 times since his debut in 2017, made his intentions clear in a recent interview on Nantes’ official website.
He stressed that the Super Eagles must deliver a strong AFCON campaign to restore national pride following their failure to qualify for the World Cup, despite being granted a second chance through the playoffs.
“Winning the AFCON is my focus with Nigeria. I don’t like to dwell on not qualifying for the World Cup. For us, for the country, for our loved ones, we have to correct this mistake,” Awaziem said.
Nigeria head into AFCON 2025 under intense pressure after a difficult year marked by inconsistent performances and fan frustration.
Although the team finished as runners-up in the 2023 edition, their form has dipped, raising concerns about their readiness for another deep tournament run.
Despite boasting top talents such as Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong, confidence in the squad remains fragile.
Host nation Morocco are favourites to win the title according to several power rankings, while DR Congo, Cameroon and Ivory Coast are also tipped as strong contenders.
With the competition running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Awaziem hopes Nigeria can rediscover their best form and launch a serious bid for a fourth continental crown—their first since 2013.
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For the defender, the mission is simple: restore pride, correct past errors, and chase glory in Morocco.
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