By Wale Mustapha
Former captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles Joseph Yobo, has emphasized the importance of a strong start for the team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The three-time AFCON champions have been placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, with Yobo stressing that a solid opening to the tournament will set the tone for success in the competition.
“A good start is very important. The first two games are crucial,” Yobo told ESPN.
“It’s very, very crucial for the team to hit the ground running. A strong beginning will motivate the players to push even harder for the title.”
The Super Eagles will kick off their campaign against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in Fez on Tuesday, December 23, before facing Tunisia in their second group game just four days later.
They will wrap up their group-stage matches with a clash against Uganda’s Cranes on Tuesday, December 30.
Nigeria were runners-up in the last edition of AFCON, falling 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final, and Yobo’s comments underscore the need to begin the tournament with confidence as they seek to reclaim the continental crown.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
