Nigeria’s senior men’s national team captain Wilfred Ndidi has played down suggestions that Nigeria are under pressure to perform at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Nigeria will begin their campaign against Tanzania at the Fez Stadium in Fes, with the midfielder confident the Super Eagles can make a strong statement in their opening fixture.
Ndidi believes a positive result against Tanzania will provide the platform Nigeria need to build momentum as the tournament progresses.
“The spirit in camp is very high and this game is very important for us; it’s a game that sets the momentum,” Ndidi said.
“Everyone is ready, from the players to the staff. Everyone is focused on this game, which is very important.”
The 29-year-old former Leicester City midfielder also highlighted the importance of leadership and experience within the squad, insisting that it has helped keep the team united and free from unnecessary pressure.
“To be honest, there’s no pressure,” he added. “We have senior players in the team helping out together with the coach and manager. I’ve been in the system long before I became captain, so there’s no pressure.”
The Super Eagles will be aiming to translate that confidence into a winning start as they chase continental glory in Morocco.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
