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Godfrey Obaobona Urges Super Eagles to Prioritise Teamwork Over Individual Brilliance Against Tunisia
Former Nigeria defender Godfrey Obaobona has warned that the Super Eagles must rely on collective effort rather than individual star power if they are to overcome Tunisia and progress smoothly at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking exclusively to Footy-Africa, the former international stressed that modern African football no longer rewards teams built solely around individual brilliance, even when those individuals are world-class.
Nigeria kicked off their AFCON campaign with a 2–1 victory over Tanzania, with Ademola Lookman’s fine strike proving decisive in head coach Eric Chelle’s first competitive match in charge. Attention now turns to Friday’s Group C showdown against Tunisia, who opened their campaign with a convincing 3–1 win over Uganda. The encounter is widely seen as a battle for top spot in the group.
Obaobona, a member of Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON-winning squad, believes teamwork will be the defining factor against the Carthage Eagles.
“Football today is no longer about individual stars,” he told Footy-Africa.
“The Super Eagles have stars—in fact, they have quality in all departments—but modern football is about collective play, teamwork, and commitment on the pitch.”
He cautioned against over-reliance on marquee names, insisting effort and unity matter more than reputation.
“If you believe you are Messi and you are not putting in the work, someone else will take the ball from you and hurt your team. So, I believe that if they play as a team, they will definitely go far in the competition.”
The former centre-back also highlighted the importance of balance and structure across the pitch.
“It doesn’t matter if we have Osimhen; if the ball is not getting to him, or if the defenders are not protecting the midfielders, there is no way the strikers can be supplied with the ball,” Obaobona explained.
He added that the physical nature of African football makes unity non-negotiable.
“This is African football. It is not about names or stars. It is very physical and demanding, and I believe we have the players, but we must play as a team.”
Obaobona declined to offer specific criticism or praise of Nigeria’s defensive setup, leaving tactical decisions firmly in the hands of the coaching crew.
“The coach is working with them in training and should know the kind of players he wants to use and the tactics to apply. He must make the decisions—that is why he is the head coach,” he said.
“So far, the team has been solid, and I believe all the players he has called up have the quality to play for the team.”
Nigeria will take on Tunisia on 27 December, with group supremacy and momentum heading into the knockout stage on the line.
