John Obi Mikel, a former captain of the Super Eagles, has challenged Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in 2025. Following coach Eric Chelle's announcement of his final 28-man roster on Thursday, the former Chelsea midfielder made the call.
After a challenging spell that saw them miss out on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria, the three-time African champions, will attempt to win a fourth continental championship next month.
Two weeks prior, Chelle had unveiled a 55-man provisional squad, but, in order to reach the deadline for final rosters on Thursday, it was trimmed.
High-profile names like Christantus Uche, Maduka Okoye, and Tolu Arokodare were left off the final list, which includes several fresh players aiming to make their international debuts.
In response to the team announcement, Mikel, who played a key role in Nigeria's 2013 AFCON victory, said on Instagram, "Bring it home lads."
Nigeria is still one of the tournament favorites, even if they have recently performed poorly against opponents that look to be easier.
Nonetheless, the Super Eagles have a track record of performing well under pressure, as seen by their run to the final in the previous edition, and they have the potential to shock the continent by winning the championship for the fourth time.
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