Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi says Nigeria’s upcoming third-place match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against Egypt promises to be an exciting contest after the team’s painful semi-final exit.
Speaking at a pre-match press briefing, Ndidi admitted the defeat to hosts Morocco was tough but insisted the squad is keen to finish the tournament on a positive note. “Tomorrow will be a very great game,” he stated, looking ahead to the bronze-medal fixture in Casablanca.
The midfielder highlighted the strong unity within the team under head coach Eric Chelle, crediting the coach for fostering a collective spirit rather than reliance on individual stars. “(Since) the manager came, the players have one philosophy and that is the team,” Ndidi explained, praising Chelle’s influence on the squad.
Ndidi also spoke about the standard set by Chelle, saying everyone arriving in the camp knows they must adhere to those high standards. “He’s a lovely guy … but when it comes to the job, he doesn’t play with it,” the captain added about the coach’s professional approach.
The Super Eagles will take on Egypt at the Stade Mohammed V as they aim to conclude their AFCON campaign positively after missing out on a place in the final.
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In the aftermath of a semi-final defeat that will linger long in the memories of Super Eagles supporters, Wilfred Ndidi’s measured reflection on the upcoming third-place play-off against Egypt captures a truth often overlooked in football’s broader narrative resilience is not defined by the heights reached, but by the manner in which a team responds to adversity.
The pain of losing a tournament semi-final particularly on home soil or against a buoyant host nation imprints itself on a squad’s psyche. Yet, in Ndidi’s words, there lies a quiet determination that transcends disappointment. “It will be a great game” is not merely an optimistic platitude; it is the articulation of a collective intent to transform grief into purpose. This is the essence of competitive spirit the refusal to allow calamity to define the remainder of an arduous campaign.
The captain’s praise of head coach Eric Chelle reveals something deeper about the cultural evolution within this Super Eagles group. Modern football demands more than tactical systems and physical preparation it requires unity, shared philosophy and emotional coherence. Chelle’s stewardship, as reflected in Ndidi’s remarks, has evidently fostered such an environment, one where collective will is placed above individual celebrity. That this has been acknowledged publicly by the team’s leader speaks volumes about their internal ethos.
As Nigeria prepare to face Egypt themselves no strangers to continental pressure the encounter is poised to be more than a consolation match. It signifies a test of character, a moment where the narrative of what might have been intersects with the reality of what still can be. In football’s unforgiving theatre, the ability to rebound from heartbreak and find purpose in a third-place fixture is an accomplishment in its own right.
Whether the Super Eagles emerge victorious or not, the true measure of this team will be seen not in the medal they claim but in the dignity with which they pursue it. In the end, football remembers not just the final score but the spirit in which the game was fought.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Nigeria were the highest-scoring team at AFCON 2025, with 14 goals before their semi-final defeat the most by any Super Eagles side in tournament history.
- The Super Eagles have historically fared well in AFCON third-place playoffs, winning the bronze match more times than any other nation.
- Egypt reached the third-place match after losing 1–0 to Senegal in their semi-final, a game that saw few clear chances and a solitary late goal.
- Victor Osimhen’s participation against Egypt is uncertain due to fitness concerns following his substitution in the semi-final.
- Wilfred Ndidi missed the Morocco semi-final due to suspension, but he was available again for selection in the third-place playoff.
