Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has emphasised that Nigeria’s squad is focused on approaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco one match at a time, despite strong performances in the tournament’s early stages.
Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s Group C clash with Tunisia, Onuachu acknowledged the team’s ambition but stressed patience and focus. “We have it in the back of our mind that we are going to win the AFCON, but we have to take one game as it comes,” he said, underlining a measured mindset.
The 31 year old forward, part of a Super Eagles squad that includes elite names like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman on the roster, emphasised that respect for each opponent is key if Nigeria are to lift the title.
Nigeria concluded the group stage with a 100 per cent record, topping Group C with three wins and eight goals, and now prepare for their Round of 16 fixture with confidence.
Editorial
There is a particular virtue in restraint amidst expectation an almost Stoic discipline that separates genuine contenders from hopeful pretenders. Paul Onuachu’s insistence that the Super Eagles will take each match “one at a time” at the Africa Cup of Nations is more than a soundbite it is a strategic philosophy rooted in both humility and self-possession.
Nigeria’s campaign in Morocco has been emphatic so far. A flawless group stage, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Uganda that sealed top spot with authority, suggests a team rich in talent and balanced across all lines. Yet in a tournament where narratives can be shaped by moments as much as outcomes, the danger lies not in the opponent before you, but the mental temptation to leap ahead of one’s own process.
Onuachu’s message echoes the wisdom of seasoned leaders respect the structure of competition and let form find its expression through focused execution rather than impulsive ambition. To win an AFCON is not merely to arrive at the final and perform it is to negotiate every step with clarity of purpose and absence of hubris.
This Super Eagles squad, blending the assured polish of veterans with the dynamism of emerging stars, requires neither panic nor presumption. What it demands is continuity a disciplined march through knockouts with each game treated as a discrete battle, not a proxy for destiny. Onuachu’s voice provides that anchor, reminding us that in football, as in life, the journey is navigated most effectively not by conjecture, but by presence of mind.
Did You Know?
- Perfect Group Stage Nigeria finished the AFCON 2025 group stage with three straight wins, scoring eight goals and topping Group C with a perfect record the most prolific tally in that phase.
- Onuachu’s Scoring Form Though part of the squad rotation, Onuachu has been influential off the bench and remains one of Nigeria’s most experienced forwards in the tournament.
- Nigeria’s Rich AFCON History The Super Eagles have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2013 a target they are aiming to build on in Morocco.
- Knockout Opponents Nigeria are set to face Mozambique in the Round of 16 after decisive group results a team they have beaten in several past encounters, including an AFCON meeting in 2010 (3-0).
- Team Rotation and Depth Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle gave debuts to several players in the final group game (e.g., Alebiosu, Nnadi and Lawal), showcasing the team’s growing tactical depth.
